Thescreescore – After years of anticipation and fervent fan speculation, a monumental stride has been made in the development of Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto film. Screenwriter Tasha Huo, known for her work on Amazon Prime Video’s The Mighty Nein, has officially confirmed the completion of the script for the highly anticipated adaptation. This pivotal update, revealed in a November 2025 interview with Nexus Point News, signals a significant step forward for a project that has been in the pipeline since its initial announcement in 2015.
Huo, who joined the creative team as a co-writer on November 27, 2023, alongside co-writer and director Destin Daniel Cretton, faces the formidable challenge of translating Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic, action-packed manga into a compelling live-action cinematic experience. The landscape of manga-to-film adaptations is fraught with peril, marked by both the recent triumph of One Piece and a history of high-profile misfires that have fueled fan skepticism. Yet, Huo remains undeterred, articulating the intricate balancing act required for such an endeavor.
"For Naruto, it was to ground it, to make it feel real and believable in the world of a live-action movie," Huo explained, reflecting on the inherent "bonkers" nature of the source material. She elaborated on the difficulty of translating elements taken for granted in animation or comics into a tangible reality: "The rules you just sort of kind of take for granted because of the medium you’re watching it in, but once you translate it to real people saying real lines and needing to convey real plot." Despite the complexities, Huo described the process as both a "challenge" and a "joy," underscoring her deep respect for the established intellectual property, a reverence also evident in her contributions to Tomb Raider and Critical Role‘s Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
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The creative vision for Naruto is further solidified by the involvement of Destin Daniel Cretton, whose directorial prowess has garnered high praise, including a direct endorsement from Kishimoto himself. Cretton, who joined the project following Michael Gracey’s departure, was lauded by the manga creator as "the perfect director for Naruto." This approval, expressed in a written statement, highlights Cretton’s proven ability to orchestrate high-concept, martial-arts-heavy narratives and fantastical battles, as demonstrated in his critically acclaimed 2021 film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Kishimoto specifically commended Cretton’s forte in "creating solid dramas about people," a crucial insight into the emotional core that must underpin Naruto‘s fantastical elements. The creator also emphasized Cretton’s open-mindedness and willingness to collaborate, fostering a mutual respect that bodes well for the film’s authenticity. With Kishimoto having been involved in co-developing the movie since 2016, his continued approval signals a cohesive creative front.
While the completion of the script marks a significant milestone, fans are now left to ponder the subsequent stages of production and the eventual release date. However, the combination of a finished script from a dedicated writer and the guiding hand of a director personally endorsed by the series’ creator offers a powerful testament to the commitment behind bringing the world of Naruto to the big screen with the care and authenticity it deserves, as reported by thescreescore.com. This latest update injects renewed optimism into the long-awaited cinematic journey of the beloved ninja.
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