'Naruto' Live-Action Will Focus on Emotional Journey, Says Director

Director Destin Daniel Cretton, currently riding high with the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, revealed new details about the highly anticipated live-action Naruto. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the filmmaker said the adaptation will focus on the protagonist’s emotional journey, exploring themes such as loneliness, acceptance, and identity.

"I think his journey in the story that we are going to tell is something that I find very personal not only culturally, but emotionally". said Cretton. The director noted that he intends to portray Naruto as someone who struggles with the feeling of being an outsider and of carrying “a monster” inside himself, until he realizes that this is precisely the trait that makes him unique and gives him power: "That is a story that feels very close to me", he concluded. 

It’s worth noting that production recently began, and the film is still looking for actors around the world to play the ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village.