NARUTO Movie Development Slows Down as New Update Disappoints Fans
The dream of seeing the Hidden Leaf Village fully realized in a big live-action movie has been exciting for longtime fans, especially after the success of Netflix’s One Piece opened the door for anime adaptations that actually work.
Lionsgate’s upcoming take on Naruto, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, has been one of the most interesting live-action anime projects in development, but the latest update isn’t exactly encouraging.
Cretton, known for his work on Spider Man: Brand New Day and Shang Chi, is set to direct and co write the film, teaming up with writer Tasha Huo, whose recent credits include Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
Huo recently spoke with ScreenRant about where things stand with the live action Naruto adaptation. Her response was short, and definitely not what fans were hoping to hear.
“I wish I did. I also can’t wait to see it.” With no official updates and no release window in sight, it’s becoming clear that this movie may still be years away.
As anticipation grows for how the film might tackle the early arcs of the franchise, fans may have to settle in for a very long wait before seeing a Rasengan explode in the real world.
Although a live action Naruto project has never made it to screens before, the series has been adapted into several stage plays in Japan. These productions have covered arcs from both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, delivering surprisingly faithful versions of classic battles and emotional storylines.
As for the overall franchise, the manga continues to push ahead with Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, which has taken the narrative in a wild direction.
The anime side of things, however, remains stalled. Neither Naruto nor Boruto are appearing in new episodes at the moment. Studio Pierrot has confirmed it will return to the world of Konoha, but much like the movie, no timeline has been offered.
With the studio juggling Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War and the revival of Black Clover, it doesn’t look likely that Boruto: Naruto Next Generations or anything new for the Uzumaki clan will be ready by 2026.
Whenever the anime does return, it will have a lot of ground to cover. The manga has drastically changed the landscape of the Hidden Leaf, setting up story arcs that fans are eager to see animated.
Until then, both the anime revival and Lionsgate’s live action movie remain in limbo, leaving fans waiting for the next big moment in the world of Naruto.