Sega’s RGG Studio just shared a ton of new information about its upcoming Yakuza prequel, Stranger Than Heaven. The game features an eclectic cast that includes Snoop Dogg, his son, a former American Idol contestant, and an iconic Japanese actor who passed away back in 2014.
Bunta Sugawara starred in five films in the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series in the 1970s. These hugely popular and influential yakuza films were a major influence on RGG’s depiction of the criminal underworld. Sugawara also inspired the look of an iconic One Piece hardass known as Admiral Akainu, who goes by the name Sakazuki later in the series. In his later years, Sugawara voiced characters in a number of Studio Ghibli films, including Spirited Away and Tales of Earthsea. Takashi Ukaji will provide the voice of Sugawara’s character in Stranger Than Heaven. Ukaji has appeared in numerous film and television projects, including Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and the First of the North Star franchises.
“In Stranger Than Heaven, the late and legendary actor Bunta Sugawara appears,” said representatives of Sega and RGG Studio in a press release provided to Polygon. “Sega received formal consent from his family, and, with materials provided by Toei Company, Ltd.—which produced many of Mr. Sugawara’s films, including the Battles Without Honor and Humanity — RGG Studio crafted his CG character design based on archival footage and photographs from the time. The character’s voice is performed by actor Takashi Ukaji, who shared a close connection with Mr. Sugawara.”
Sugawara is not the first actor to be ‘revived’ on-screen in recent months. During April’s CinemaCon event, the late Val Kilmer appeared in footage of the upcoming film As Deep As the Grave, in a performance created with generative AI. The footage sparked controversy, though Kilmer’s family has defended his appearance in the film. “I think this is a really historic precedent, and I’m really proud of him,” the actor’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told The Today Show.
We’ll find out more about Sugawara’s role in Stranger Than Heaven when RGG’s next adventure launches this winter on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.
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