Jack Black’s Next Video Game Movie Could Be Based on a 21-Year-Old Franchise

Jack Black has hinted at a potential new direction for his recent run of video game adaptations. The actor recently expressed interest in joining another long-running franchise, leaving open the possibility of a new project tied to a decades-old series.

Jack Black wants to be in a live-action Yakuza movie

Jack Black, who voices Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, said he wants to star in a live-action adaptation of Yakuza. Speaking to ScreenRant, he stated, “So I’m going to throw my hat in that ring. I don’t know if there [are] any parts for me, like a portly American, but talk to me. Sega, give me a jingle.”

Black made the comment while promoting the new Mario project alongside Donald Glover. When asked about other universes, Glover said, “My kids are really into Wings of Fire. Saga also. Have you ever read Saga?” Black replied, “But don’t say Sega. Because we’ll get in trouble.”

Toshihiro Nagoshi created the Yakuza franchise and launched it in 2005 on PlayStation 2. The series follows Kazuma Kiryu, known as the Dragon of Dojima, as he navigates Tokyo’s criminal underworld, blending crime drama, action, and comedic elements.

An adaptation history includes Like a Dragon, a film loosely based on the first game, and the Prime Video series Like a Dragon: Yakuza, which received mixed-to-negative reviews. A Western-produced adaptation has been in development since 2020, with the property considered difficult to translate due to its tonal balance.

Black has recently appeared in multiple video game adaptations, including Minecraft and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.36 billion, while A Minecraft Movie earned over $961 million. Sega has previously asked fans which celebrities they would like to see in future Yakuza titles, placing Black among the names discussed.

Yakuza, also known as Like a Dragon in Japan, is an action-adventure and role-playing series developed by Sega, featuring characters such as Ichiban Kasuga and Goro Majima. The franchise spans mainline entries, spin-offs, and television adaptations across multiple platforms worldwide.

Source: Comingsoon.net