Danica Davidson
August 23, 2024 
Things are moving forward with the live-action Hollywood Naruto adaptation. Screenwriter Tasha Huo said she’s finished her script, and that director Destin Daniel Cretton “is now doing his stuff.”
In February it was revealed that Cretton would be stepping into the director’s chair for Naruto, as well as also being involved with the writing. He previously directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Huo thinks Naruto is in good hands with Cretton.
She told Entertainment Weekly, “I think that’s such a cool choice because he’s going to be able to capture how nuanced and special Naruto is without getting distracted by the big world that it is, which I think could easily be done by someone who’s not a fan or someone who’s coming in for a cash payday. This is definitely a movie that comes at it from a love of who Naruto is and that character and his relationships.”
Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, also gave some high praise to the director when his involvement was first revealed. 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. 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]. 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.”
VIZ Media publishes the Naruto manga and gave this description for the first volume:
Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become the next Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!
Source: Entertainment Weekly
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
