The live-action Naruto movie might be a reality. Why, you might ask? Well, the upcoming film continues to be in the works, about 10 years since it was originally announced. Word on the street (and the Internet) says Lionsgate is still working on the adaptation, with a new writer now as part of the creative team.
Variety spilled that screenwriter Tasha Huo will be writing the live-action. She’s not new to adapting stuff, as her record includes upcoming adaptations of the Red Sonja comic and series based on the Tomb Raider video games. This marks a major update for the project, as there hasn’t been more information about it since its first announcement in 2015.
The Naruto live-action confirmation doesn’t come as a surprise, though. It wouldn’t be crazy to think the adaptation got a green light after the One Piece series. This live-action got renewed for season two and was praised by fans and critics alike, breaking the “history of failure” when it comes to Japanese series or mangas being adapted in the West.
This success partly came from the involvement of Eiichirō Oda, the original One Piece manga writer, in the series. Both the artist and Netflix worked collaboratively to make the best adaptation possible, and this was proved once the show was released.
For that reason, a key part for the success of the Naruto live-action would be to stay faithful to Masashi Kishimoto‘s source material. The movie would also have to be very careful with its cast, as choosing the right actors is a component of a successful adaptation.
Stay tuned for more updates about the Naruto-live action.