The highly expected live-action film adaptation of the popular anime and manga series Naruto finally has a writer and director attached, as well as production companies involved.
Acclaimed filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, known for directing the Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will write and direct the Naruto movie for Lionsgate.
Cretton will also co-produce the film through his production company Hisako, working alongside prolific producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions.
Lionsgate has been developing this live-action adaptation since 2015, and executives James Myers and Jon Humphrey will oversee the project for the studio.
With Cretton at the helm and major producers on board, fans can look forward to seeing the ninja world of Naruto brought to life soon.
The Hollywood Reporter shared these exciting updates on the creative team and production details for the highly anticipated Naruto live-action movie.
Masashi Kishimoto Endorses Destin Daniel Cretton as Director for Live-Action Naruto Film
In an official statement, Masashi Kishimoto, who authored the iconic Naruto manga series, expressed strong support for Cretton to adapt his vision for the story and characters.
After seeing one of Cretton’s blockbuster action films, Kishimoto felt he would be the “perfect director” for bringing Naruto to life in live-action.
He was convinced Cretton’s talent for crafting emotional character dramas, along with his willingness to collaborate with Kishimoto during production, made him the best choice to direct.
Kishimoto seems excited to provide his creative input while trusting Cretton’s cinematic expertise.
These comments also imply screenwriter Tasha Huo, originally announced to write the script, will no longer serve that role now that Cretton is both writing and directing.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson reaffirmed full confidence in Cretton to lead the film, expecting his take on the classic manga will thrill longtime Naruto fans and newcomers alike.
Fogelson is eager to work again with producer Avi Arad, assured that together with Cretton and his team, the live-action Naruto is in skilled and dedicated hands.
While many anime fans stay cautious about live-action adaptations, Maile Flanagan, the English voice actor for Naruto, shared in an exclusive interview that she has heard promising things about this production.
More About Naruto
The village of Konoha, located in the Land of Fire within the ninja world, is attacked by a destructive nine-tailed fox known as the Nine-Tails.
To stop the beast, the leader of Konoha, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, seals the fox into his newborn son Naruto Uzumaki at the cost of his own life.
This makes Naruto a host of the fox’s fearsome power. With Minato gone, the Third Hokage comes out of retirement to guide Konoha again. Young Naruto is shunned by Konoha’s people for housing the Nine-Tails within him.
The Third Hokage decrees no one can reveal the truth, so Naruto remains unaware of his burden until years later when rogue ninja Mizuki maliciously tells him.
Naruto defeats Mizuki in their clash, finally earning the respect of his teacher Iruka Umino.
Soon after, Naruto graduates to become a full ninja. He joins fellow new ninjas Sasuke Uchiha, his friendly rival, and Sakura Haruno, his crush, on Team 7 under their elite ninja teacher Kakashi Hatake.
Like all ninja teams, Team 7 takes on missions from villagers, ranging from chores to bodyguard work to high-risk assassinations.
After proving themselves on missions, including a landmark one in the Land of Waves, Kakashi enters Team 7 into the Chunin Exams, where passing allows promotion to higher ninja ranks and more difficult, complex missions.
However, the exams are disrupted by the criminal ninja Orochimaru invading and killing the Third Hokage in revenge.
The legendary ninja Jiraiya turns down the title of Fifth Hokage, instead finding Tsunade to take over the position.
It comes to light that the criminal Orochimaru wishes to mentor Sasuke Uchiha due to his extraordinary inherited abilities from the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan eye powers.
After Sasuke attempts but fails to kill his older brother Itachi Uchiha, who shows up in Konoha aiming to capture Naruto and the fox spirit within him, Sasuke chooses to leave Konoha and join forces with Orochimaru instead.
He hopes to gain enough strength from the criminal ninja to finally defeat Itachi.
Sasuke’s decision marks a pivotal turn in the story. The Fifth Hokage Tsunade dispatches a team of ninjas, including Naruto, to retrieve Sasuke, but Naruto cannot persuade or force his friend to return home.
Though devastated, Naruto and Sakura do not give up hope on their teammate Sasuke