Jack Black Has His Eyes on a Live-Action Yakuza Role, and We Have the Perfect Character
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jack Black wants a role in a live-action Yakuza adaptation, and Polygon suggests he should play the series' most infamous diaper-wearing patriarch, Gondawara.
Jack Black is ready to add another major video game adaptation to his resume. While doing press ahead of the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the actor recently told ScreenRant that he is eager to join a live action adaptation of Sega's sprawling crime saga, Yakuza. Black openly admitted he is not looking to play stoic protagonist Kazuma Kiryu or fan favorite wildcard Goro Majima. Instead, he is pitching himself for any role that fits a portly American, jokingly telling Sega to give him a call.
Writing at Polygon, Jen Glennon points out that the franchise already has a hilariously specific role tailor made for Black's brand of chaotic energy. Patriarch Gondawara is an imposing crime boss who famously runs an underground adult baby fetish service in Kamurocho, introducing himself to Kiryu in a legendary optional substory from Yakuza Kiwami 2. Gondawara also recently returned in 2024's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for another absurdly heartfelt scene involving a diaper snowstorm in Hawaii. It is the exact brand of bizarre, high conviction comedy that Black excels at, blending absolute sincerity with over the top theatricality.
Adapting Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's beloved franchise into live action has historically been a tricky endeavor. Amazon's gritty 2024 series largely stripped away the games signature side content humor and failed to secure a second season, following in the footsteps of Takashi Miike's cult classic 2007 film adaptation. While previous attempts have leaned heavily into serious crime drama, injecting a bit of unadulterated absurdity through someone like Black might finally give us the tone true fans have been waiting for. You can read the original feature over at Polygon.
Tags: Jack Black, Yakuza, Sega, Polygon, Gaming Adaptations
Original article: Polygon