Naruto fans have been eagerly awaiting a live-action adaptation of their favorite anime and manga series, which recently received a disappointing update from Tasha Huo, the co-writer of the live-action film. In an interview with ScreenRant, Huo revealed that she has no new information about the project, and she is in the same boat as fans.

Huo also indirectly pointed out that Destin Daniel Cretton’s busy schedule with Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the reasons why Naruto’s live-action is not moving forward. Cretton is currently working on the new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled to be released in July 2026.

Naruto Sidelined For MCU: Anime Still Not Hollywood’s Priority

Although Huo hasn’t officially confirmed that Cretton’s involvement with Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the reason behind the delay of the Naruto live-action film, it certainly appears to be a major contributing factor. What this highlights is that even though anime has become a mainstream art form with global popularity, it is still not on the priority list for Hollywood.

The live-action project of Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus was first announced in 2015 by Lionsgate, and since then, it has witnessed a lot of changes. It was initially being directed by The Greatest Showman’s Michael Gracey, but the project was then handed over to Cretton. Since then, there have been very few updates about Naruto Live-Action, and it still remains in the pre-production phase.

The only major update that the Naruto Live-Action film got was that its script had been drafted by screenwriter Huo. The production of the movie should have begun long ago, but different elements, including Cretton’s busy schedule with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, have left it hanging. Additionally, it remains unclear whether Cretton will shift his focus to the Naruto live-action film after completing Spider-Man, or if he has another project scheduled before it.

New Spider-Man Cannot Match Naruto Live-Action’s Hype

While the MCU and Spider-Man are undeniably bigger names than Naruto, the buzz surrounding the series’ live-action adaptation is way bigger than the excitement for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Anime fans have been waiting for a Naruto Live-Action since 2015, and in anticipation of the project, they have even released their own fan-made shots and videos.

It has reached a point where they have a petition for the live-action with almost twenty thousand signatures. Not only that, it is also one of the biggest issues among fans that is discussed on social media and chat groups daily. Still, the creators of the project have not yet given a significant update about it since the announcement. Thus, fans are starting to lose hope and fear that the adaptation may be stuck forever.

Naruto is one of the most prominent names in the anime and manga world, with a popularity that extends across the globe and continues to resonate with fans of all ages. It deserves a live-action project that can justify the fame and recognition of the franchise, and the creators should give it the respect it deserves. Do you think the project will ever get out of the pre-production phase? Let us know below.

Naruto is currently available to watch on Hulu.