The live-action Naruto movie is still in pre-production, but the film’s director has a high-profile release coming soon that is already giving viewers a good idea of what the adaptation of the beloved ninja-filled story can look like. Naruto‘s story is cherished in the hearts of millions of people around the world for its emotionally deep themes and brilliant action. Live-action anime adaptations rarely succeed in attracting new fans and satisfying already existing ones, but the Naruto movie can be different.

The epic tale of Naruto delivered an ending that’s aged like fine wine with its 700 manga chapters and hundreds of anime episodes. That scope seems like a nearly impossible task to adapt into a live-action two-hour movie. Even though One Piece live-action broke the curse of disappointing anime adaptations, it’s done so by adapting the long series into a Netflix show that obviously provides a lot more runtime to tell its story. Still, recent developments prove that a Naruto movie can still work and look great.

Naruto‘s live-action movie debut has been in development hell for more than a decade. 2024 finally provided an update with the news that Destin Daniel Cretton would be directing the project, the talented director behind arguably the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best action movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While nothing official has been shown to provide hope that the Naruto movie’s production is progressing, the trailer for Cretton’s next movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, includes several teases for what the director has in mind for Naruto.

Ninjas In The Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Are A Naruto Appetizer

While several trailers for Marvel movies earn a lot of views quickly, Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke records by earning more than a billion views within a week of its release. A lot of people saw the first glimpse of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man settling into a new life after the world was forced to forget him. But eagle-eyed viewers who’ve been anxiously awaiting to see Destin Daniel Cretton’s take on a live-action Naruto got their first look at the director’s idea of what ninjas should look like in a high-budget Hollywood film.

The last chunk of Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s trailer included several exciting action shots of the web-slinger battling against a variety of foes. But fans of Naruto should pay extra attention to the moments where Spider-Man fights mysterious red ninjas in both the jail and rooftop scenes because they are the first real look at what ninjas may look like in the upcoming live-action movie.

Marvel fans have been quick to point out that the adversaries are likely members of the secret organization known as The Hand, which has been heavily featured in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe television shows. But the ninja’s costume designs and action choreography have all been approved by the same man who will be in charge of approving the same features in the Naruto movie.

Cretton’s Work Inspires Hope That Naruto Is In The Right Hands

Custom Image by Mezi Mulugeta

As expected from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the costumes and action in Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s first trailer look fantastic. Cretton’s work proves he has a talented eye for fantastical action and a firm grasp of implementing special effects, two features that will be vital in making a live-action Naruto movie work. And every action shot involving the red-clad ninjas inspires even more confidence that Destin Daniel Cretton can do Naruto right.

The first trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day inspires confidence that Cretton is a reliable choice in providing exciting over-the-top action. And the approval of Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto is another great sign that the Naruto live-action movie can be something special if it does move forward with Cretton’s talents that have been displayed so far. If the director and the movie’s writers can also nail Naruto’s emotional moments, complex world-building, and iconic character dynamics is another thing that this fan in particular is anxious to see pulled off.

Video Game(s)

Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (2003), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja, Naruto: The Broken Bond, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Naruto Shippuden Dragon Blade Chronicles, Naruto: Path Of The Ninja, Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Cast

Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei

Latest Film

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

Release Date

July 31, 2026

Director

Destin Daniel Cretton