Naruto Live-Action Petition Surges Toward Milestone as Destin Daniel Cretton Shelves Film for MCU

For anyone who has been waiting an eternity to see Naruto in live action, the needle finally looks like it might be nudging forward. Not racing ahead, not sprinting, just...moving. Slowly. But moving.

Where the movie actually stands

The Naruto movie has been floating around since 2015, when Lionsgate lined it up with producer Avi Arad (yes, that Avi Arad from early Marvel Studios days). After that early burst of excitement, things went quiet and then stayed quiet. Over the years, there have been little flickers of progress, but nothing you could point to and say: this is happening.

Recently, writer Tasha Huo (she has worked on the project at different stages) told ScreenRant that director Destin Daniel Cretton has simply been too busy to push things forward, calling out his current superhero obligations — especially an upcoming Spider-Man project titled 'Brand New Day'. Translation: Naruto is not dead, but it is not first in line on Cretton’s to-do list.

So, where does that leave us? No firm start date, no production timeline, and no confident 'it’s go time' update. Interest is rising, though, and the pieces are there. They just have to click together at the same time.

The petition and the 20K question

A fan petition is closing in on 20,000 signatures. That’s not nothing — it proves the appetite is real — but in Hollywood terms, it’s more of a nudge than a shove. Useful momentum, not a greenlight button. And right now, Cretton is gearing up for bigger, louder Marvel business, which will naturally take priority until that cycle calms down.

That said, the timing could tilt Naruto’s way sooner than you think. If 'Avengers: Secret Wars' resets the MCU deck a bit and leaves the next wave of 'Shang-Chi' plans uncertain, Cretton could be freer. Add in the fact that most Disney+ shows only get a single season, and it’s likely he won’t be locked into more 'Wonder Man' episodes either. After his Spider-Man detour, there’s a plausible path where he can zero in on Naruto.

Why Cretton might actually be the right fit

This is one of those behind-the-scenes details that actually matters: Cretton is a genuine Naruto fan. Huo has said as much, and series creator Masashi Kishimoto has previously expressed confidence in his approach. When the creator trusts the director, it calms a lot of nerves — especially with anime adaptations, where fans have every reason to be wary.

Also worth noting: Netflix’s 'One Piece' live-action proved this lane can work if you respect the source and get the tone right. Cretton knows what fans want, he understands the material, and he has the chops to do it justice — assuming the calendar finally cooperates.

What to expect next (and what not to)

Don’t expect a surprise shoot date next week. Do expect more small updates as Cretton clears his superhero commitments. If and when the MCU schedule loosens, Naruto becomes a much more realistic next swing for him. The fan push helps. The industry timing might help more.

Quick refresher: the original anime

• Title: Naruto
• Studio: Pierrot
• Release date: October 3, 2002
• Episodes: 220
• Genres: Action, adventure, fantasy
• Ratings: 8.01/10 on MyAnimeList, 8.4/10 on IMDb
• Where to watch: All episodes are streaming on Crunchyroll

Bottom line: the fan energy is real, the director loves the material, and the Hollywood calendar is the last boss here. If it falls the right way, Naruto might finally get the live-action treatment it deserves.