Naruto is joining (or trying to distance itself) from other live-action anime adaptations with a new film coming by filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton.
THR broke the news that Lionsgate has tapped Cretton to helm a live-action version of the iconic and prolific anime series from creator Masashi Kishimoto. The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker will write and direct.
“When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching a blockbuster action film of his, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto,” said Kishimoto in a statement.
Adding, “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 Naturo. In actually meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input and felt strongly that we would be able to cooperate together in the production process.”
The original Masashi Kishimoto Naruto manga became a Weekly Shonen Jump series from 1999 to 2014, becoming a staple of shonen anime for an entire generation. The series follows a young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki who wants to grow up to be the leader of his ninja village but also has the spirit of a dragon inside him.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson notes, “This manga classic is beloved by millions of fans all around the world, and Destin has delivered a vision for the movie that we believe will excite that massive fan base as well as those who are new to it. Avi and I have had the pleasure of working together before, and I know that as we collaborate with Destin and the team on Naruto, we are in extraordinary hands.”
The adaptation has been in development with Lionsgate since late 2015.
