With the buzz around Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation reaching fever pitch, anime fans are naturally curious about the fate of other iconic series.
The idea of a live-action Naruto adaptation isn’t new. Lionsgate secured the rights to the franchise as early as 2015, with Michael Gracey, the director of “The Greatest Showman,” initially tapped to helm the project.
By 2017, the script was passed on to Jon and Erich Hoeber for a rewrite. Things seemed to be progressing, but not without challenges.
In a 2018 interview with Collider, director Michael Gracey opened up about the delicate process of bringing Naruto to life on the big screen.
Gracey expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Masashi Kishimoto, the mastermind behind the Naruto universe.
Gracey shared his enthusiasm about the project, adding, “It’s an incredible opportunity, and everyone from Lionsgate to the producers understands the weight of this responsibility.”