The upcoming Naruto live-action movie could reportedly become the beginning of a much larger film franchise if the first installment performs well. A new report has suggested that Lionsgate could potentially develop seven or eight movies to bring Masashi Kishimoto’s complete story to the big screen, although no such long-term plan has been officially announced.
The report comes as the live-action adaptation finally moves toward production after years of development. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton is attached to direct and co-write the movie alongside Tasha Huo. Lionsgate and the Naruto team have also launched a worldwide casting search for the young actors who will portray Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
The latest development is significant because Naruto is far too expansive to adapt comfortably into a single movie. The original manga follows Naruto from his childhood as an inexperienced ninja through increasingly large conflicts, eventually continuing into Naruto: Shippuden. A multi-film approach would therefore give the filmmakers considerably more room to cover the major arcs.
Naruto Could Follow a Harry Potter-Style Film Structure
According to a report attributed to industry insider Daniel RPK, the potential plan could involve seven or eight live-action Naruto movies if the franchise becomes successful. The reported structure would divide the original Naruto story into roughly three films before using another three or four movies to cover the events of Naruto: Shippuden. This remains an unconfirmed projection rather than an announced Lionsgate franchise plan.
The first movie could reportedly begin with the Land of Waves arc, one of the earliest major stories in the manga and anime. Recent reports have suggested that Team 7’s first major mission could form the basis of the movie, although neither Lionsgate nor the filmmakers have officially confirmed the storyline. The arc introduces Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi on a mission involving bridge builder Tazuna before they encounter the rogue ninja Zabuza Momochi and Haku.
For now, the reported seven-to-eight-film strategy should be treated cautiously. Lionsgate has confirmed that Naruto remains in development, while the studio’s 2025 slate also listed the property among its projects in development, but there is no official announcement committing the studio to eight movies.
The scale of such a franchise would also create significant production challenges. Cretton is already working on major Hollywood projects, while adapting Naruto would require years of casting, filming, visual effects, and scheduling. The filmmakers would also need to streamline Kishimoto’s extensive story for a movie format, meaning several characters, arcs, and events could be condensed or changed.
For now, the first Naruto live-action movie remains the priority, with its worldwide casting search underway and Cretton directing. Whether it eventually grows into a seven or eight-film adaptation will depend heavily on the first movie’s reception and performance.
