Hollywood Live-Action Production of 'Naruto' Announced

A Naruto and Boruto joint stage event at Jump Festa 2017 on Saturday has formally announced that a live-action film production based on the Naruto manga is in progress.

American entertainment news platform The Tracking Board reported in July 2015 that Hollywood media company Lionsgate had won the rights for the adaptation. Japanese entertainment news platform Eiga Natalie confirmed that Lionsgate holds distribution rights for the film.

The Jump Festa stage event also confirmed that commercials director Michael Gracey will helm production with the involvement of mangaka Masashi Kishimoto. Gracey is currently directing a biographical musical drama film depicting the life of American circus showman P. T. Barnum.

Screenwriters Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath from Teen Titans Go!, as well as Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair, are drafting a story based on the original manga. Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad and his son Ari are credited as producers for the film. Production also involves Zareh Nalbandian, chief executive of Australian animation and visual effects company Animal Logic.

Production art for the film (pictured) was revealed at the stage event. Cast information will be announced at a later date.

Source: Official Jump Festa Twitter, Eiga Natalie

News submitted by Gdawg