Black is known for his wide-ranging career, from his music as part of Tenacious D to his many films, including School of Rock, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Kung Fu Panda, and Nacho Libre. Most recently, Black has starred in a string of films based on iconic video games, such as Minecraft and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Black revealed that he would love to star in another live-action video game adaptation. In particular, the comedy star wants a role in Sega’s long-running Yakuza game franchise. He said, “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.”
When Black and his costar, Donald Glover, were asked about what other universes they would like to explore, the latter gave a few options. “My kids are really into Wings of Fire,” Glover said. “Saga also. Have you ever read Saga?” Black had not heard of Saga but quipped: “But don’t say Sega. Because we’ll get in trouble.”
Sega’s Yakuza franchise dates back to 2005, when the first game launched on PlayStation 2. The story primarily follows Kazuma Kiryu, often referred to as “the Dragon of Dojima,” through Tokyo’s criminal underworld in a blend of gritty action and absurd humor.
Amazon Prime Video did try its hand at a TV adaptation of Yakuza, but Like a Dragon: Yakuza season 1 was met with mixed-to-negative reviews. Now with Black throwing his hat in the ring and Sega having previously asked fans which celebrities they would like to see in future Yakuza games, his name is now in the conversation.
Regardless, history shows that Black understands what it takes to make a blockbuster hit. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) grossed over $1.36 billion, while A Minecraft Movie (2025) grossed over $961 million. His track record is in line with something like Yakuza, a popular video game franchise looking to leverage that appeal for box office success.
Prior to the Amazon series, there was a film adaptation loosely following the plot of the first game called Like a Dragon, which was met with mixed reviews. However, a new, Western-produced Yakuza adaptation has been in development since 2020.
Yakuza is particularly difficult to adapt due to its unique balance of humor and crime. The previous attempt struggled to capture both, leading to its polarizing reception. Jack Black’s interest, however, hints at a potentially better fit, given his history of starring in both comedies and blockbusters, something that could align with the tone if an adaptation moves forward.
-
- Birthdate
-
August 28, 1969
- Birthplace
-
Santa Monica, California, USA
-
- Created by
-
Toshihiro Nagoshi
- Latest TV Show
-
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
- Cast
-
Takaya Kuroda, Kazuhiro Nakaya, Hidenari Ugaki, Rie Kugimiya, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Yumi Asou, Yoko Maki, Hitoshi Ozawa, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kenta Miyake, Masami Nagasawa, Koichi Yamadera, George Takei
- TV Show(s)
-
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
- Character(s)
-
Kazuma Kiryu, Ichiban Kasuga, Goro Majima, Taiga Saejima, Haruka Sawamura, Makoto Date, Shun Akiyama, Masumi Arakawa, Ryuji Goda, Daigo Dojima, Joon-gi Han, Tianyou Zhao, Seong-hui, Eri Kamataki
- Video Game(s)
-
Yakuza, Yakuza 2, Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 0, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza: Dead Souls, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The Yakuza franchise, also known as Like a Dragon in Japan, is an action-adventure and role-playing game series developed by Sega. It follows Kazuma Kiryu and later Ichiban Kasuga as they navigate Japan’s criminal underworld. Known for its intense drama, combat, and humorous side content, the franchise includes main games, spin-offs, and adaptations.
