Director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Destin Daniel Cretton, has been chosen to helm the live-action adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s acclaimed manga Naruto, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. There remains some uncertainty whether Cretton will co-write the series with Tasha Huo, who was announced as the film’s screenwriter in November 2023.
Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto is one of the most popular manga franchises globally, with approximately 250 million copies sold since its debut on September 21, 1999. The series is considered part of the “Big Three” of anime, a term referring to the most popular series in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump during the mid-2000s, alongside Bleach and One Piece.
Naruto follows the journey of Uzumaki Naruto, an orphaned ninja boy with dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village, Konohagakure.
In a statement, Cretton expressed his honor at meeting Kishimoto in Tokyo and discussing the expansive vision for Naruto. “We are very excited to collaborate and bring Naruto to the big screen,” he said.
Kishimoto, in turn, praised Cretton, stating that he believed Cretton was the perfect director for the adaptation after watching his films. “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,” Kishimoto noted. He also appreciated Cretton’s open-minded approach and willingness to embrace his input, believing it would lead to a cooperative production process.
The live-action adaptation of Naruto has reportedly been in development since 2015. In addition to directing and writing, Cretton will serve as a producer, alongside Jeyun Munford and Arad Productions’ Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu. The project is supported by the same studio behind the film adaptation of the video game Borderlands. Jeremy Latcham, known for Dungeons and Dragons, will also produce.
With Cretton at the helm, fans of Naruto can look forward to a faithful and well-crafted adaptation that aims to capture the essence of Kishimoto’s beloved manga.