Lionsgate has hired Destin Daniel Cretton, co-writer and director of Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,’ to direct the new live-action ‘Naruto‘ movie following its announcement.
In a statement, ‘Naruto’ creator Masashi Kishimoto says he is convinced there is no other director better to make the live-action remake than Daniel Cretton.
Kishimoto said, “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.” Kishimoto added, “After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is 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.”
Cretton will co-produce with Jeyun Munford through his company, Hisako. They join Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, known for the upcoming Borderlands adaptation, along with Jeremy Latcham (Dungeons & Dragons).
What is ‘Naruto’ About?
Created by Kishimoto, is a beloved story about a young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki. Serialized from 1999 to 2014, it follows Naruto’s journey to become the leader of his village while wrestling with a nine-tailed demon fox spirit inside him. The series has sold over 250 million copies worldwide, spawned popular animated shows, video games, and merchandise, and has a dedicated fanbase spanning 25 years.
Enthused Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said, “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.”
Cretton, who directed ‘The Glass Castle‘ starring Brie Larson in 2017, previously worked with Lionsgate. James Myers, who oversaw that project, will also oversee ‘Naruto’ alongside executive Jon Humphrey.
Daniel Cretton is currently working on Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’ series for Disney+. He was initially set to direct ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,’ but left the project after the SAG-AFTRA strike ended in November 2023. Additionally, he is slated to direct ‘Shang-Chi 2,’ with filming scheduled to begin in late 2025.
The cast for the upcoming Lionsgate’s ‘Naruto’ is yet to be announced. Once the production begins, Lionsgate will reveal details, including the cast, and release date.
