Lionsgate's Live‑Action Naruto Film to Remain Faithful to Original Manga

Director Destin Daniel Cretton says Lionsgate’s live‑action adaptation of the Naruto manga will stay as close as possible to Masashi Kishimoto’s original story, focusing on the early arcs rather than trying to cram the entire series into one film. The screenplay is being written by Tasha Huo, known for her work on The Witcher and Tomb Raider, and the production team includes Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Emmy Yu, Jeremy Latcham, with Cretton also serving as a producer alongside Jeyun Munford.

A casting call has been opened for the three members of Team 7, seeking actors aged 16‑20, preferably of Asian descent to reflect the source material, though any nationality may be considered. The project, originally acquired by Lionsgate in 2015, had earlier development stalled by the pandemic and a previous director under consideration. No release date has been set, but the film is moving forward in stages.