This Could Be Project Century’s Lead Actor

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Summary

  • Project Century, set in 1915 Japan, features new character fighting in arcade-style beat-em-up action gameplay.
  • Character resembles Kazuma Kiryu’s live-action actor from 2007.

As a long-time fan of the Yakuza series, I must admit that the revelation of Project Century has sent waves of excitement coursing through me. The game, set in 1915 Japan, promises to offer a fresh take on the beat-em-up action gameplay we’ve come to love from the Kazuma Kiryu-led games, and the resemblance of the main character to Kazuki Kitamura, the live-action actor who played Kiryu in the 2007 Like a Dragon film, has my curiosity piqued.

Some enthusiasts have speculated and possibly identified the primary actor for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s upcoming project, “Project Century,” suggesting that the character is based upon and played by Kazuki Kitamura, who portrayed Kazuma Kiryu in the 2007 film adaptation of “Like a Dragon.” Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is developing “Project Century,” a game renowned for its creation, with this upcoming title appearing to be one of the studio’s most varied and hard-hitting projects yet. The team behind the popular “Yakuza” / “Like a Dragon” video game series has a history of branching out into new ventures with “Project Century” seeming to be no exception.

At The Game Awards 2024, Project Century was unveiled, swiftly garnering interest among fans. This game is set in Japan during 1915 and follows a fresh character as he delves into a remote village. The trailer displayed the player battling numerous enemies in the beat-em-up style reminiscent of games led by Kazuma Kiryu, contrasting with the turn-based combat of Ichiban Kasuga series. The action appears more authentic and gritty, sparking speculation among fans about whether or how this series links to the Like a Dragon universe. A potential connection seems to be the protagonist, who some suspect is inspired by the live-action actor portraying Kazuma Kiryu in 2007’s Like a Dragon.

According to Jack Yakuza and Ultra Oak on Twitter, the latest character in the new game bears a striking resemblance to Kazuki Kitamura, who played Kazuma Kiryu in the 2007 Like a Dragon movie. Fans think this is true because of their unique facial features or the similarity in the facial model. While opinions are mixed about the film’s overall quality, many fans agree that Kitamura’s fight scenes, particularly opposite Goro Kishitani as Goro Majima, were exceptional.

Kazuki Kitamura and His Work Outside the Like a Dragon Movie

Kazuki Kitamura has worked on numerous live-action anime adaptations outside his role in the Like a Dragon film adaptation. For example, he portrayed Gonzo Kosugi in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023) and Shirosuke Inudo in the Golden Kamuy: Hokkaido Tattooed Prisoners Scramble Arc live-action drama (2024). It’s not unusual for big name actors to be cast in leading roles, as demonstrated by Japanese icon Takuya Kimura, who played the main character in the Judgment spin-offs.

This casting decision hasn’t been confirmed yet, as Project Century was only just revealed on December 12. Regardless, a lot of noise is being made about Project Century and its place in the Like a Dragon timeline, some fans believing it could be a prequel that takes place 100 years before the events of the mainline games. Fans will just need to wait for more official information from Sega and RGG Studio about Project Century.

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2024-12-15 07:08