Let’s hope Destin Daniel Cretton is keeping up with his cardio routine because he’s about to Naruto run into a live-action adaptation based on the mega-popular manga series by Masashi Kishimoto. Lionsgate announced today that Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, American Born Chinese) would direct and write a Naruto film for the studio. Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, made the announcement today.

“It was a true honor to meet Kishimoto-san in Tokyo and hear his expansive vision for his creation,” stated filmmaker Cretton. “We are very excited to collaborate and bring NARUTO to the big screen.”

For the uninitiated, Naruto focuses on Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja struggling for recognition while dreaming of becoming the Hokage, the village’s leader and strongest ninja.

Naruto has printed over 250 million copies in over 60 countries and territories. The series features an eclectic cast of characters, including Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Hinata Hyuga, and more.

Masashi Kishimoto said, “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. To put it simply, the live-action NARUTO is bound to be a film with spectacular action and profound drama. I can’t help but be excited for it.”

Fogelson said, “This manga classic is beloved by millions of fans all around the world, and Destin has delivered a vision for the movie that we believe will excite that massive fan base as well as those who are new to it. Avi and I have had the pleasure of working together before and I know that as we collaborate with Destin and the team on NARUTO, we are in extraordinary hands.”

Thanks to Netflix‘s live-action adaptations, beloved properties like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender are enjoying tremendous success. Now feels like the perfect time to establish a live-action version of Naruto, with fans worldwide loving the manga, animated series, spin-offs, and more!

Are you excited about Destin Daniel Cretton directing and writing a live-action Nauro movie? Will the plot focus on the manga or tell an entirely new story? Which characters do you hope to see in the film? Let us know in the comments section below.

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