The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the beloved anime Naruto is moving closer to reality, as the film’s creative team takes a significant step forward in its development.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tasha Huo, the original writer for the live-action adaptation, revealed that her initial script is complete. With her work done, the project is now in the hands of acclaimed filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, who is set to bring his unique vision to the story as both writer and director. Cretton, known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Short Term 12, joined the project in February following the success of Shang-Chi, which grossed $432 million globally despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Huo, who is also the showrunner for Netflix’s upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft animated series, expressed her enthusiasm for Cretton’s involvement. She praised his ability to infuse his projects with personal and relatable storytelling, a quality she believes will resonate deeply with fans of Naruto.
“I think that’s such a cool choice because he’s going to be able to capture how nuanced and special Naruto is without getting distracted by the big world that it is,” Huo told EW. “This is definitely a movie that comes from a love of who Naruto is—the character and his relationships.”
Naruto originally began as a manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1997 before becoming a worldwide phenomenon with the launch of the TV series in 2002. The story centers on Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned warrior ostracized by his community due to the demonic entity sealed within him. The character quickly became iconic for his distinctive spiky-haired look, love of ramen, and unwavering determination.
Kishimoto himself has expressed confidence in Cretton’s ability to bring Naruto to life on the big screen. “When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching one of his blockbuster films, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto,” Kishimoto shared in a statement to EW. “After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naruto. Meeting Destin confirmed this; he is an open-minded director who values my input, and I believe we will work well together throughout the production process.”
As fans eagerly await further updates, the release date for the live-action Naruto movie remains undisclosed. However, with a team dedicated to honoring the essence of the original series, there is little doubt that the film will be a “nuanced and special” tribute to a beloved character.