After years of speculation, it is now confirmed a live-action Naruto movie is under development following the announcement from Lionsgate that Destin Daniel Cretton will serve as writer and director.
According to a press release from the entertainment company, Cretton met with Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto in Tokyo to “hear his vision for his creation.” Kishimoto watched one of Cretton’s films and made the decision that the filmmaker was the only one for the role, stating he is an “open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input.”
Naruto is one of the most popular manga series worldwide, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump between September 21st, 1999 and November 10th, 2014, comprising 72 published volumes that have sold 250 million copies globally, and adapted into an anime, with animated films, stage-plays, concerts, and theme park rides.
The Hawaiian-born Cretton most recently directed the Marvel epic Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and previously worked with Lionsgate on The Glass Castle.
Also involved in the untitled Naruto film are producers Avi and Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu from Arad Productions, alongside Cretton and Jeyun Munford from Hisako.
No other information, including potential actors or premiere date, were provided in the press release.
Source: Lionsgate press release
© Masashi Kishimoto/Shueisha/TV Tokyo/Pierrot
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