Move over, Snake Eyes. The actual most popular ninja in the world, Naruto, is about to get his own movie, too, and this one might actually be a hit. A live-action Naruto film has been talked about for years, but now it’s finally taking shape with Destin Daniel Cretton coming aboard to direct.
Cretton is best known as the director of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He had been aboard their upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty film but dropped out, while staying aboard Shang-Chi 2 and Marvel’s Wonder Man series. Cretton also helmed the terrific drama Short Term 12 that introduced the world to LaKeith Stanfield, Kaitlyn Dever, and showed everyone Brie Larson’s dramatic skills. And like that film, Cretton will also be writing the screenplay for Naruto.
THR notes that Cretton will be rewriting the script based on an earlier draft by Tasha Huo.
The film is based on the popular manga by Masashi Kishimoto that centers on Naruto Uzumaki, a ridiculed but carefree ninja who aspires to become the Hokage, leader of his village, to receive the approval he’s long sought. Naruto remains one of the best-selling manga of all-time around the world.
With so much on Cretton’s plate it’s unclear what comes next, but one would assume Marvel takes the pole position here.
