Naruto Live-Action Officially Confirmed With Spider-Man: Brand New Day Director

After nearly a decade of uncertainty, Naruto‘s long-awaited live-action adaptation has taken its biggest step forward yet. Lionsgate has officially confirmed that filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, who is also directing Sony and Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is spearheading the adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic manga.

The latest production update confirms that the project has entered pre-production, with a global casting search beginning for the members of Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura), although no casting decisions have been publicly announced yet (via the Naruto Official Website).

With more than 250 million manga copies sold across over 60 countries and territories, Naruto remains one of the most influential manga franchises ever created. Bringing the story of Naruto Uzumaki to live-action has long been considered one of Hollywood’s most ambitious anime adaptations, making this latest development a significant milestone for both the entertainment industry and anime fans worldwide.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Director Set to Bring Naruto to Hollywood

Lionsgate has officially confirmed that Destin Daniel Cretton will write, direct, and produce the live-action Naruto film. While many fans now recognize him as the director of the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Cretton previously earned widespread acclaim for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, along with acclaimed dramas such as Short Term 12 and Just Mercy. His reputation for balancing emotionally grounded storytelling with large-scale action is one of the biggest reasons fans have welcomed the announcement.

Back in 2024, Cretton had described meeting series creator Masashi Kishimoto in Tokyo as “a true honor,” adding that he was excited to collaborate with the legendary mangaka and bring Naruto to the big screen (via the Naruto Official Site). Kishimoto also expressed strong confidence in the filmmaker, revealing that he believed Cretton was the ideal choice after watching one of his action films and later discovering his talent for creating emotionally compelling character dramas.

Now, with the film in the pre-production stage, Cretton has reiterated the same, and mentioned that it’s an honor to bring Kishimoto’s world and the characters to the big screen in live-action. Masashi Kishimoto has also expressed his jubilation. Calling the experience “miracles,” he said:

The film is being produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu through Arad Productions alongside Jeremy Latcham, while Cretton is also producing with Jeyun Munford through his Hisako banner. Lionsgate’s James Myers and Jon Humphrey are overseeing the project for the studio.

What We Know About the Naruto Live-Action Film So Far

Kakashi from Naruto. [Credit: Pierrot]

Hollywood has pursued a live-action Naruto adaptation for years. Lionsgate previously attempted the project with director Michael Gracey in 2014 before Cretton officially took over the reins as the writer and director of the live-action movie in 2024. Now, the project has successfully entered pre-production.

One of the project’s biggest strengths is the ongoing involvement of Kishimoto in the live-action film. Rather than serving only as the original creator, Kishimoto has confirmed that he has met extensively with Cretton and has been invited to provide creative input throughout development. His public endorsement has reassured many longtime fans who have been cautious about previous Hollywood anime adaptations.

As of now, Lionsgate has not revealed which manga story arc will serve as the foundation for the film. Although recent production updates indicate that the project is progressing into pre-production and a worldwide casting search has begun, the studio has yet to reveal who will portray Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, or any other major characters. For now, the most significant takeaway is that the Naruto live-action movie is no longer a dormant Hollywood project.

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