Live-Action ‘Naruto’ Plot Reportedly Revealed: A Dangerous First Mission and Inner Demons

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
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Few manga franchises hold as much significance as ‘Naruto’. Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic story has sold over 250 million copies across more than 60 countries, and fans have eagerly awaited its live-action adaptation. Lionsgate secured the rights to the project over a decade ago, but it has faced numerous delays and changes in directors since then.

This summer, momentum picked up again. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, is both writing and directing the film. A worldwide casting search began in July for the roles of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Kishimoto expressed his excitement in a statement on the official Naruto site, saying, “miracles are happening to me, one after another.”

Now, the first significant story details have emerged. According to Knight Edge Media, they have obtained the plot synopsis for the movie, confirming that it will adapt Naruto’s initial mission as a ninja. While Lionsgate has yet to officially release the synopsis, it should be regarded as reported information.

The report indicates that the story takes place in a stunning alternate universe where every child aspires to become a ninja. Naruto Uzumaki is portrayed as a uniquely talented yet challenging new recruit, embarking on his first mission alongside his reluctant teammates, Sasuke and Sakura.

However, the mission quickly escalates into a far more perilous and sinister situation than anyone expected. Naruto must confront his inner demons, including the literal demon that embodies the source of his power.

This last detail hints at the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto since birth, which is the origin of his extraordinary abilities and the reason he has often felt like an outsider.

ComicBook.com has speculated that the first mission could align with the Land of Waves arc, although the synopsis does not specify it. This storyline established Team 7’s dynamics in the manga and introduced Zabuza and Haku as their first significant adversaries. A piece from Screen Rant has also suggested that a live-action adaptation should focus on a single mission rather than spending excessive time on world-building.

Another possibility, mentioned by Knight Edge Media, is that the film may feature an original story set within the same universe, with nods to specific scenes from the manga. However, nothing has been confirmed at this point.

Casting details have added complexity to the project. In July, Lionsgate initiated a global casting call for Asian actors over 18 to portray the 16-year-old versions of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Then, about two weeks ago, a second casting call was issued for actors aged 13 to 15 specifically for Naruto and Sakura.

This raises questions about the characters’ ages in the film. In the original manga, the team is 12 years old, while the earlier casting call suggested the film might depict them at 16, as seen in ‘Naruto: Shippuden’. Some commentators have criticized the decision to age them up, while others noted that Kishimoto has publicly supported Cretton.

Cretton is co-writing the script with Tasha Huo and producing alongside Jeyun Munford, Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Emmy Yu, and Jeremy Latcham. Charles Melton has reportedly been cast as Kakashi Hatake, although no official cast announcements have been made yet. Production is expected to commence in January in the UK.

There is also cautious optimism regarding live-action adaptations of anime in general. Observers have pointed to the success of Netflix’s live-action ‘One Piece’ as evidence that studios are becoming more committed to the source material, contrasting with earlier failures like ‘Dragon Ball Evolution’ and ‘Cowboy Bebop’.

A narrative centered around a challenging first mission and a demon within its hero serves as a promising foundation. This approach resonates with fans of the original series, indicating that the film aims to honor the classic beginnings rather than reinvent them.

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