If you don’t know the super popular manga property, “Naruto,” you probably at least have seen the running meme about racing as fast as you can to something you love (someone did the run in real life during the Area 51 raid and it made the news, lol). That’s probably exactly how fans of the Japanese manga/graphic novel feel about the latest news. “Naruto” will be adapted into a feature-length movie, and even better, “Shang Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings” filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton will direct.
READ MORE: Simu Liu Confirms Destin Daniel Cretton Will Return To Direct’ Shang-Chi 2’
Written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, the “Naruto” manga tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. “Naruto” has already been made into a popular Japanese anime television series, licensed in North America by Viz Media, airing on Cartoon Network and YTV from September 2005 to December 2009.
It’s huge with the kids, as they say. “Naruto” is one of the best-selling manga series of all time, having sold over 250 million copies worldwide in 47 countries and regions, with 153 million copies in Japan alone and the remaining 97 million issues elsewhere.
English translations of the graphic novels have appeared on USA Today and The New York Times bestseller list several times, and the seventh volume won a Quill Award in 2006.
Cretton will also write and direct the adaptation for Lionsgate. Cretton will also produce alongside Jeyun Munford through his company, Hisako, along with Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, who are also on board the project.
The project has been in development since 2015 with Arad’s company, but Cretton jumping on board certainly gives it new legs. Cretton is currently developing a sequel to “Shang Chi” for Marvel and executive producing their “Wonder Man” series. The filmmaker had been all set to go to the big leagues and direct their mammoth “Avengers: Kang Dynasty” film (now reportedly going under an “Avenger 5” title for now until they figure out a new one), but then dropped out of the project citing his overall obligations for Marvel, and suggesting he had taken on more than he could chew at once.
Presumably, “Shang Chi 2” comes first, but in Hollywood, you just never really know until you know. [THR]
