It’s no secret that anime is the one medium Hollywood has struggled to adapt to live action. While we love series like Bleach or DragonBallZ for their hyperkinetic action and unique stories, translating that energy to the 3D world often leads to disaster – the less said about Dragonball Evolution and the Scarlett Johansson-led Ghost in the Shell, the better. Now the tide might be turning, thanks to Destin Daniel Cretton’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Naruto.
For starters, Naruto has a plot that’s fairly easy to grasp. Protagonist Naruto Uzumaki seeks to become the strongest ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village, while joining Team 7 with medical ninja Sakura Haruno and rival Sasuke Uchiha. Of course, Naruto fans know that the series eventually spirals into a saga of bloodshed and betrayal that rivals Game of Thrones, but the early stories could easily form the backbone of a movie, and sow the seeds for sequels.
Cretton has also proven that he can nail the intense martial arts sequences that fuel Naruto thanks to his previous blockbuster work. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has Simu Liu’s titular Master of Kung Fu delivering piercing blows to men twice his size, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day has one of the best Spidey-themed action sequences ever put to screen when the web-head takes on the Hand ninjas. Cretton would definitely deliver on action in Naruto.
There’s also the fact that Cretton is a bona fide fan of Naruto. When he was first announced to direct the live-action adaptation, he expressed his love of the franchise in a way only a fan can.
“As a longtime fan of Naruto, I’ve always loved that beneath the extraordinary action is a story filled with heart, humor, and humanity,” he said in a statement provided to the press. “Kishimoto-sensei created a world where unlikely heroes do extraordinary things, and that’s what makes it so special. Lionsgate has been an incredible partner, and I’m thrilled to reunite with the fantastic team at Sony. Together, we’re committed to capturing everything fans love about Naruto while introducing it to a whole new generation.”
Being a fan of something while taking a creative part in it is a double-edged sword, as your knowledge can help you deliver the necessary surface details but may prevent you from recognizing a compelling story if it de previous work on Marvel movies shows he can deliver a film that will please hardcore fans and newcomers alike
Cretton also has an ace up his sleeve, as Sony is boarding production duties alongside Lionsgate. Considering Brand New Day made a stack of money, that’s hardly surprising. But Sony is also home to Crunchyroll, the world’s largest anime streaming service. And with Naruto serving as a crown jewel in Crunchyroll’s library, this is the best way to hook old fans and assure new fans that Naruto is in the right hands.
Every medium, from comic books to video games, has had peaks and pitfalls when it comes to being adapted. Naruto looks like it’ll be the beginning of a long-awaited peak for anime fans.
