Summary
A recent update on theNarutomovie has me hopeful that the upcoming live-action adaptation will get my favorite anime right. Alive-actionNarutomovieis currently in the works at Lionsgate, withShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsdirector Destin Daniel Cretton helming the film.Narutocreator Masashi Kishimoto is involved in the projectas a producer and has previously shared his excitement over what Cretton is doing. WhileHollywood’s history with anime adaptationsis complicated, the reception to Netflix’sOne Piecehas proven that theNarutomovie can work.
AdaptingNarutoas a movie instead of a TV show is a risky choice considering the length of the manga. That said, given the scale ofNaruto’s world, a series of big-budget movies may be the best way to bring Kishimoto’s story to live-action after all.If successful,Narutocould become a massive movie franchisein which audiences would be able to grow with the characters. As a hugeNarutofan, I’ve always imagined what a live-action film made with care and respect to the source material would look like, and Cretton’s movie appears to be it.
15 Best Naruto Openings, Ranked
Naruto has captured fans with its esteemed openings. From visuals, tone, and meanings all the openings are amazing, but some go beyond amazement.
The Naruto Movie Seeks To Capture How “Nuanced & Special” The Manga Is
Destin Daniel Cretton’s Vision For Naruto Sounds Promising
During an interview withEntertainment Weekly, screenwriter Tasha Huo, who wrote theNarutomovie’s first draft, revealed that director Destin Daniel Cretton will capture how“nuanced and special”the manga is. Huo noticed that, whereas someone who is not a fan ofNarutowould likely be distracted by how big that world is, Cretton will be able to portray what truly makes Masashi Kishimoto’s manga special. While not much can be inferred from these comments,I’m excited to see what Cretton’s take onNarutowill be.Despite its rich world,Narutois a character-focused story first and foremost.
NarutoPart 1 refers to the anime’s first 220 episodes, with the other 500 beingNaruto Shippuden. Such distinction doesn’t exist in the manga.
Naruto, especially Part 1, is about the struggles faced by its titular characterrather than the Shinobi world itself. The series does have a very convoluted lore and power level system from the start, but it’s only duringShippudenthat the scale of the story really expands. As the first entry in what could be a multi-movie franchise, it would make a lot of sense for the first live-actionNarutofilm not to dive too deep into the lore. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi are already fascinating characters who could carry a live-action movie.
Also toEWfollowing the announcement of the Naruto film, Kishimoto mentioned having enjoyed Cretton’s previous films. The mangaka pointed out how the filmmaker’s forte is in creating"solid dramas,“which is essential for aNarutoadaptation given how character-driven the story is.
After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for [Naruto].
The Naruto Movie Focusing On Naruto Uzumaki Over The Shinobi World Makes Sense
Naruto Is About Its Titular Character Regardless Of How Big The World Is
It’s unclear which arcs theNarutomovie will cover, but I assume it will be theLand of Waves arc. Team 7’s mission to protect Tazuna is our first introduction to that world, and even though its stakes weren’t that high in hindsight, it remains a fan-favoriteNarutoarc decades later. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are still inexperienced Genin during the first arc, with their set of skills being far from the god-like abilities they would showcase duringShippuden.Naruto’s first arc has no giant monsters or armies – it’s an introspective storyprimarily about Zabuza and Haku.
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Sasuke Retrieval
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Compared to the Chunnin Exams, the search for Tsunade, or the Sasuke retrieval mission,Naruto’s Land of Waves arc is a much smaller story that would not require a superhero movie type of budget. It does include some great fights, particularly at the end, but none of them are that big compared to later events.Naruto’s first few episodes got me hooked not because of the worldbuildingor the scale of the battles but rather because they made me care about Naruto Uzumaki and the rest of Team 7. Even the villains felt human and relatable.
The Naruto Movie Still Can’t Forget How Rich Kishimoto’s World Is
Naruto Has Great Worldbuilding And Fun Action Throughout
While the firstNarutomovie should indeed be as character-driven as possible, the live-action franchise should not forget how rich the world Kishimoto created is.Naruto’s worldbuilding is a very important part of the storyeven before all theShippudenretcons, meaning it should be incorporated as soon as possible in the live-action franchise. I would love to see a couple of flashbacks set beforeNaruto’s birth in live-action, perhaps even teasing characters and twists that will only come into play much later. I also hope theNarutomovie lives up to the anime in terms of action sequences.
Naruto’s world has enormous potential, but whether all those elements will ever make it to live-action probably depends on how the first film will do.
Most of the fights inNaruto’s Land of Waves are either Taijutsu-based or involve very simple Ninjutsu techniques, which gives the first movie an advantage over potential sequels. Still, if the first film works and performs well at the box office, I’ll be incredibly excited to see things likeNarutosummoning Gama Bunta or Gaara turning into Shukaku in live-action.Naruto’s world has enormous potential, but whether all those elements will ever make it to live-action probably depends on how the first film will do. Hopefully, Cretton’s upcomingNarutomovie will be the first of many.
