The long-awaited live-action adaptation of Naruto is officially moving forward, and it’s bringing some major Hollywood heavyweights along for the ride.
In a significant strategic move, Lionsgate has greenlit the project and will partner with Sony Pictures. Sony is set to co-finance the film and handle international distribution, while Lionsgate will spearhead development, production, and domestic distribution.
Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is attached to direct and write the screenplay. Cretton is no stranger to Sony, having directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The studio is clearly eager to maintain that relationship, stepping in to support his vision for the beloved manga.
Production is slated to begin in spring, with the film based on Masashi Kishimoto’s globally renowned manga series.
The stakes for this adaptation are high, given the massive footprint of the source material. Since its debut, the Naruto manga has sold over 250 million copies across 60 countries and territories, evolving into a multibillion-dollar multimedia franchise. The anime adaptation alone has reached audiences in more than 145 countries.
To ensure the film stays true to its roots, Kishimoto is reportedly heavily involved in the production process.
The film boasts a powerhouse production team. Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu are producing for Arad Productions, alongside Cretton and Jeyun Munford for Hisako.
This project adds to Lionsgate’s recent momentum, following the record-breaking success of Michael, which surpassed $1 billion worldwide. Meanwhile, Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a critical financial success for Sony/Marvel, becoming the highest-grossing movie ever at the domestic box office with $958.8M and the third-highest grossing movie of all time globally, sitting at $2.5 billion behind Avengers: Endgame and Avatar.
Source: Deadline
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