The Naruto live-action movie finally feels more possible than ever, as the fan-driven petition for the movie is closing in on 20,000 signatures. This project originally came into consideration back in 2015, with Lionsgate and Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad involved.

However, things have been pretty quiet since then. Progress has been slow over the years, and even recent updates still feel uncertain. In a ScreenRant interview, writer Tasha Huo, who has worked on the project at different stages, explained that the project director, Destin Daniel Cretton, has simply been too busy, especially with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

So at the moment, we still don’t have enough solid info to know where the Naruto movie stands or when it’ll get a real, positive update. The interest is growing, the petition is gaining momentum, and the pieces are slowly lining up, but fans may have to wait a bit longer.

How Significant Is the 20K Sign Milestone for the Naruto Movie

Sure, hitting 20K signatures on the petition definitely means something, but it’s still small compared to the kind of MCU hype Cretton is preparing to tap into next. Fans want the Naruto movie to move forward, but the director’s Marvel commitments naturally take priority for now.

But after the upcoming Spider-Man movie, things will get interesting. If Avengers: Secret Wars acts as a reboot for the MCU, leaving Shang-Chi’s future a bit uncertain, it can possibly give Cretton room to shift toward something new. And with most Disney+ shows only getting one season, he probably won’t be tied down with more Wonder Man episodes either. So, he can solely focus on Naruto next.

With all that in mind, the effort, love, and heart fans have poured into the petition might actually pay off sooner than expected. The timing could finally work out in Naruto’s favor.

Cretton’s Love for Naruto Will Shape a Perfect Live-Action Movie

Cretton has always been a big Naruto fan, and even Tasha Huo has acknowledged that. It’s clear he genuinely cares about the series, which already puts him in a good spot when it comes to adapting something as beloved as Naruto.

Both Huo and Kishimoto have previously shared their confidence in Cretton’s approach, calling him a real fan of the original manga. That alone suggests he won’t take the responsibility lightly. When the creator himself trusts the director, it adds a lot of reassurance for fans who worry about live-action adaptations.

Some basic info on the original Naruto anime:

And now, with Netflix’s One Piece live-action hitting massive success, Cretton definitely sees how much potential this medium has. He knows what fans expect, he understands the source material, and with his background, he’s got everything he needs to do Naruto justice if the project moves forward.

All episodes of the Naruto anime series are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.