Highlights
- After almost a decade, there’s finally an update on the live-action Naruto movie adaptation, with Tasha Huo announced as the writer.
- Naruto is a massively popular anime with over 200 episodes and is part of the “Big Three” of classic Shonen anime.
- Huo expresses her excitement and passion for adapting beloved material like Naruto, citing Baz Luhrmann, J.J. Abrams, and Mike Flanagan as her artistic influences.
Almost a decade ago, entertainment company Lionsgate announced that a Naruto live-action movie adaptation was in the works. In a new update, the writer of the adaptation was announced, Tasha Huo, who has previously worked on Red Sonja and the Tomb Raider animated series.
What is important to note here is that this is the first update on the live-action project in almost ten years. So what do we know about the live-action up to this point?
RELATED: The Biggest Mistake The Naruto Series Ever Made
Naruto follows the titular Naruto and his friends as he embarks on a journey to become a Hokage for his village. This legendary anime has over 200 episodes and is adored by anime fans, forming one-third of the colloquial “Big Three” trifecta of classic Shonen anime. The success of the anime led to another anime adaptation; Naruto Shippuden and Boruto, alongside anime movies, a game, and OVAs.
In 2015, Masashi Kishimoto’s beloved manga was announced to receive the live-action treatment like many anime before it. The production will be rooted in Lionsgate, the company that produced the likes of the the John Wick film series, Hunger Games film series, Oscar-winning La La Land, and more blockbuster hits. It was confirmed that Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) will direct the project in 2016. Kishimoto is also reported to be a part of the movie’s production.
It was announced in an article by Variety magazine that the screenwriter of the pending Naruto live-action movie will be Tasha Huo. Huo’s previous projects as a writer include The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022), Red Sonja, and the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (the latter two are currently in post-production and are set to premiere in 2024).
In the Variety article titled “10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2023”, Huo states that adapting material that is so beloved is a “fan’s dream come true”. On adapting something treasured by an enormous community like Naruto, Huo says “Adapting iconic characters or IP makes the writing of it easier, because the passion for writing it is already there.”. She continues to say that she’s “so inspired by these characters already that it’s exciting to just take a part of their journey and try to tell that fun story in a way that would appeal to me as a fan.”. The writer cites Baz Luhrmann, J.J. Abrams, and Mike Flanagan as her artistic influences.
Sources: Variety, Screen Rant, IMDb, Anime News Network
