Naruto Live-Action Film May Bring Team 7’s First Mission to the Big Screen

The long-gestating live-action Naruto film is finally moving forward after being stuck in pre-production purgatory since its original announcement in July 2015. In December 2016, at Jump Festa, series creator Masashi Kishimoto and director Michael Gracey confirmed their collaboration on the project. 

Fast-forward to February 2024, when a creative shift at Lionsgate brought Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton onto the project, where he would collaborate with Kishimoto on the film’s development. 

Now, a new exclusive report from Knight’s Edge Media gives us our first hint at the plot of the upcoming movie. After nearly a decade of waiting, we finally have an idea of where this adaptation intends to take Naruto and how the story could translate to the big screen.

What We Need To Know

According to Knight Edge Media, the synopsis suggests that the film will adapt Naruto’s first major mission, giving us our first indication of how Lionsgate plans to bring the story to the big screen. 

Plot Synopsis 

“The Naruto story unfolds in a breathtaking alternate universe, where every child dreams of becoming a ninja. We follow Naruto Uzumaki, an exceptionally gifted but challenging new recruit, as he’s assigned to his first mission alongside reluctant teammates Sasuke and Sakura. The mission turns into something far more dangerous and sinister than anticipated, and Naruto is forced to confront his inner demons—including the literal demon that’s revealed to be the root of his own power.”

The synopsis itself does not directly reveal what Naruto’s first mission will be in the movie. However, it gives us an important clue about where the story could be headed.

The Land of Waves Arc

Based on the manga and anime, Naruto and Team 7’s first major mission takes place during the Land of Waves arc.

The arc introduces the villains Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice, Haku, while also serving as one of the first major challenges for Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and their teacher, Kakashi.

The Land of Waves arc could be an excellent starting point for the live-action movie. It takes place early in the original story, introduces several important elements of the Naruto universe, and provides a contained storyline that could potentially translate well into a feature film.

More importantly, adapting an early arc would give the filmmakers an opportunity to establish the characters and world without trying to cram too much of the manga into a single movie.

For now, however, the synopsis does not explicitly confirm that the Land of Waves arc is being adapted. That connection is an inference based on the reference to Team 7’s first mission.

The Bottom Line

After nearly a decade of development, we’re finally starting to get an idea of what the live-action Naruto movie could look like.

The reported synopsis points toward Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura embarking on their first mission together, which could mean the film will adapt the Land of Waves arc. While that has not been directly confirmed, it would make sense as a starting point for the live-action adaptation.

Production is expected to begin early next year in the United Kingdom, although the film still does not have a set release date. 

For now, we’ll have to wait and see whether this first glimpse at the story ultimately matches what makes it to the big screen.