The popular anime series Naruto is mainly about teenage ninja Naruto Uzumaki, who aspires to be the strongest and gain the respect of his town. The show chronicles Naruto’s adventure as he overcomes obstacles, develops friends, and seeks fame in a mythical world full of ninjas and extraordinary abilities.
The show covers themes of tenacity, companionship, and self-discovery while blending action, humor, and heartfelt scenes. The story is driven by Naruto’s resolve to become a Hokage, and all the epic adventures with bloody fights, character development, and an interesting exploration of his ninja way. The anime was also very close to having a live-action adaptation, but it never came to realization.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto Almost Had a Live-Adaptation
Japanese mangaka Masashi Kishimoto is well known for creating the hugely well-liked manga and anime series Naruto. With his inventive writing, compelling characters, and rich world-building prowess, Kishimoto has made an enduring impression on the manga and entertainment industries.
The success of the anime and the immense acclaim it has received have cemented the mangaka’s reputation as a key figure in the world of manga and popular culture. Naruto is one of the “big three” and has hundreds of millions of fans from all over the world. The show was also very close to having a live-action adaptation but the project never received a green light from the higher-ups.
Michael Gracey is a very famous director and has gained widespread fame and recognition for his various projects, with his directorial debut with The Greatest Showman. The director is also slated to direct a live-action adaptation of the most fan-loved anime, Naruto. But no further news or updates has been revealed about the project since it was announced back in 2015.
Although the project was announced, Gracey did not go ahead with the decision because he stated that he will not green-light the project unless Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of the series agrees with it. Nevertheless, fans from all over the world would surely want to experience a new wave of the live-action, if it is ever made.
Naruto Live-Action Would Have Not Been Like the One Piece
Michael Gracey wanted to make sure that to make Kishimoto, the man who created Naruto, enthusiastic about the script, he emphasized his intention to collaborate closely with him for the live-action film. His goal was to create a movie that would accurately depict the world of Naruto, a world that its creator would be the best qualified to understand, rather than to adapt to another superficial Hollywood adaptation of its manga.
“So many Hollywood adaptations of really popular manga series just don’t get it right”
On the other hand, the One Piece live-action adaptation is just around the corner as the eight-episode series will air starting August 31st. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the original series, admitted that the show would feel a little short on key story arcs or that some characters were cut for the show. Although fans would not mind minor changes, it would leave them a bit dissatisfied. Gracey wanted to make sure that nothing of this sort happen with his work and leave the fans unsatisfied.
Source: Collider
