Destin Daniel Cretton Directing Live-Action Naruto Film
A Hollywood Reporter exclusive reveals that Lionsgate and Destin Daniel Cretton are bringing Naruto to theaters in live-action. Naruto is a wildly popular anime and manga, and Cretton is best known as the director of the MCU installment Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Cretton will write, direct, and produce the film. Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, and Jeremy Latcham join Cretton as producers, as well as Jeyun Munford of Hisako. Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto is satisfied with Cretton’s involvement, according to a statement he made:
“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.”
I watched the better part of Naruto’s first season, and I didn’t like it. I thought it was too silly in tone, and the hero constantly yelling, “Believe it!” sucked me right out of any form of immersion in the setting. Anime is very hit-or-miss for me, as is every other genre and medium. But I have to question how well such a bombastic, absurd anime will translate to a Western major motion picture. I haven’t seen Shang-Chi, but I also haven’t heard good things about it.
But what do you think? Does Naruto need an American, live-action film? Is Cretton the man for the job? Sound off in the comments!
