Marvel's Shang-Chi director in the works for Naruto live-action movie

According to Hollywood Reporter, Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of the 2021 Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings, has been tapped to write and direct the live-action Naruto film adaptation.

The Naruto live-action film was first announced nine years ago in 2015, and the project made a lot of progress last November when it was reported that screenwriter Tasha Huo was writing the script. Her involvement is not mentioned in the latest reports, so it seems that plans have changed.

Cretton received the blessing of Naruto manga author Masashi Kishimoto after visiting Tokyo. "When I heard Destin was joining the project, it happened to be after watching one of his blockbuster action films, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto (the live-action movie)," Kishimoto said in a statement.

“After watching his films and understanding his strengths in creating solid stories about quests, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naruto. During the actual time I spent meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was very receptive to my opinions and felt strongly that we could work together in the production process.”

Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate, said: "This classic comic is loved by millions of fans around the world, and Destin has delivered a vision for the film that we believe will excite both fans and those who haven't been exposed to it."