The immense popularity of the live-action adaptation of One Piece has inspired several other iconic anime franchises to pursue their own live-action versions.
One such franchise is Naruto, which has had rumors of a live-action show circulating online for some time. Executives working on the proposed Naruto adaptation have now confirmed that the project is in active development, and they hint that an official release date may be announced soon.
However, some concerns have emerged regarding the Naruto live-action series, leading fans to worry it could be poorly received or even be declared a failure before it ever airs.
Specifically, the announcement that Tasha Huo will serve as the head screenwriter has been met with apprehension and negativity from devotees of the Naruto franchise.
BIG NEWS ALERT 🚨
A NARUTO LIVE ACTION MOVIE is in development by @Lionsgate ‼️
Tasha Huo, who wrote The Witcher on Netflix, has completed a new script draft! Who’s excited? pic.twitter.com/QHCcZDrm4k
— 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗼 岸本斉史 (@kishimotomasshi) August 28, 2023
Huo’s involvement has stirred up controversy among the ardent Naruto fandom, causing doubts about whether she understands or can faithfully translate to live action the elements that make the property so beloved.
Unless these concerns are addressed, some fans caution there is a chance the adaptation could disappoint or alienate its intended core audience, tarnishing Naruto’s legacy.
The producers may need to reconsider their creative direction and personnel choices if they hope to deliver a live-action Naruto that captures the spirit of the original anime.
Lionsgate Secures Rights for Live-Action Naruto Movie
The media production company Lionsgate has secured the rights to develop a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed anime Naruto. Lionsgate will finance, produce, and likely distribute the Naruto movie under their corporate banner when complete.
The Naruto live-action project is presently in development, though details have emerged that Chinese-American screenwriter Tasha Huo has already joined the creative team and has a preliminary script drafted.
This indicates filming could begin on translating Naruto from animation to real-life actors and settings in the near future.
However, rather than excitement, the announcement of Huo’s integral involvement has stoked concern among devoted Naruto fans. Huo previously wrote for the Netflix fantasy prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin, set before the events of the hugely popular Witcher video game franchise.
But Blood Origin was deeply divisive among loyal Witcher followers who felt Huo’s writing choices misunderstood and mismanaged the rich lore and worldbuilding. Her role in Blood Origin was largely blamed for diminishing and wasting the show’s formidable potential.
Now Naruto fans worry inviting Huo into a key creative role risks similar issues for the Naruto live-action adaptation – that her vision or interpretation of the story and characters could profoundly alienate or betray core elements of what makes the anime so cherished.
There are calls for the producers to reconsider Huo’s level of influence to avoid Naruto befalling the same damaging fate as Blood Origin.
Concerns Mount Among Naruto Fans as Tasha Huo Joins Live-Action Project
Netflix struck gold with its live-action adaptation of the iconic anime series One Piece, which resonated with viewers even beyond high expectations. The as-yet-unreleased Naruto live-action project hopes to replicate that success.
However, the recent announcement that screenwriter Tasha Huo is attached to the creative team has dampened optimism among ardent Naruto fans.
Huo was previously involved with the Netflix fantasy show The Witcher: Blood Origin – a controversial prequel spinoff to Henry Cavill’s smash hit series The Witcher, which is adapted from a popular video game franchise.
Though the rich world of The Witcher held great small-screen potential, many devotees felt Blood Origin squandered that promise, leaving a sour impression.
Some Naruto fans indirectly blame The Witcher makers for essentially funneling Huo into the Naruto adaptation after her poorly received efforts on Blood Origin. If not for that association, she likely would never have joined the Naruto live-action creative roster.
Still, despite no real rivalry between the disconnected anime and fantasy franchises, their respective fandoms have forged an adversarial bond over anxiety about Huo’s contributions.
The Naruto faithful have their fingers crossed that somehow the ingredients align to capture the same magic as One Piece rather than follow Blood Origin’s trajectory – but with Huo involved, they cannot help but temper their optimism.
The phenomenal reception and success of the Netflix live-action One Piece adaptation has built eager anticipation among Naruto fans hopeful that a similar approach could bring the world of Naruto to life in an engaging way.
However, enthusiasm has been tempered by the announcement that Tasha Huo will be central to scriptwriting duties, given her recent work on the poorly-reviewed fantasy prequel, The Witcher: Blood Origin.
