The live-action Naruto movie has found its director, and a four-minute MCU fight scene offers a good reason to get excited about his involvement in the upcoming adaptation. Lionsgate’s Naruto movie was announced back in 2015, but it didn’t make much progress in the years that followed. On the heels of Netflix’s One Piece, the studio seems determined to bring Masashi Kishimoto’s story to life on the big screen. And its announcement about who will write and direct the live-action Naruto project is a big step in the right direction.
Lionsgate revealed that Destin Daniel Cretton will helm the Naruto film, a promising development for the adaptation. While there are still many challenges the live-action Naruto movie faces while adapting the beloved anime, its choice of director bodes well for its success. And Cretton’s work within the MCU paints a positive picture of what his approach to Naruto could look like. In particular, one four-minute fight scene should elicit some excitement about the upcoming project.
Shang-Chi’s Final Battle Has Us Excited For What Destin Cretton’s Naruto Movie Will Look Like
Its Fantastical Elements Show What Naruto Could Look Like
Destin Daniel Cretton directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel, and the MCU movie’s final battle offers a promising depiction of what the live-action Naruto movie could look like. Shang-Chi‘s final fight features a number of fantastical elements, from a giant dragon to the blasts of energy that come from the titular rings. The MCU film makes these things look natural and seamless on-screen, which is something Lionsgate’s Naruto movie must accomplish as well. After all, Naruto has many fantasy elements, and they play prominent roles in the manga and anime’s fight sequences.
If Cretton’s Naruto adaptation can capture the Jinchūriki or creatures like Gamabunta in a way that’s similar to Shang-Chi‘s dragon, it will be setting Lionsgate’s franchise up for success. Even the energy blast scenes would lend themselves well to the Naruto movie. Capturing jutsu won’t be an easy feat, but Shang-Chi suggests that Naruto’s power system can look good on the big screen.
All Of Shang-Chi’s Fight Scenes Suggest The Naruto Movie Is In Good Hands
Destin Cretton Is Creative When It Comes To Action Sequences
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ final fight scene is promising for Naruto because of its extraordinary elements, but all the film’s action sequences are a testament to Cretton’s talent. Shang-Chi has some of the best fight scenes in recent MCU projects. From the unique showdown on the bus to the movie’s scaffolding skirmish, Shang-Chi brings action to life in a way that’s fresh and compelling. The creatives behind the film clearly know how to think outside the box. This will come in handy when Cretton tackles Naruto.
Anime fight sequences don’t typically stick to a specific formula, and many of them go well beyond the confines of live-action. This is why they’re so difficult to convey in the other medium. Having someone on board who can take a creative approach to Naruto‘s action will go a long way towards ensuring the live-action film does it justice. The anime’s fights are some of its most exciting moments, so nailing those will be crucial to selling fans on the adaptation. From Naruto’s showdowns with Sasuke to the anime’s larger battles, Cretton must get creative to succeed.
Destin Cretton’s Filmography Makes Him The Perfect Director For Naruto
The Director Has Experience With Adaptations
Cretton’s filmography makes him the perfect director for Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto movie, and not just because of Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proves that Cretton can handle major IPs that are adapted from other material. However, the director’s other work also speaks to his skills. Cretton directed two episodes of American Born Chinese for Disney+, a series that adapts the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang. The show has gotten positive reviews, and Cretton’s involvement highlights his experience with adaptations.
Cretton also directed the films The Glass Castle and Just Mercy, both of which are very different from projects like Naruto and Shang-Chi. Both are adaptations, though, with the former based on Jeanette Walls’ best-selling memoir and the latter covering Bryan Stevenson’s memoir. Given these projects are based on true stories, they demand a different type of talent than a major IP. However, Cretton’s work on these movies proves he can take on the responsibility of telling another person’s story and doing so successfully. This will work in his favor, as it’s a skill that is transferrable to fiction, and thus, the live-action Naruto.
