Naruto's Upcoming Return Is The One Thing The Franchise Was Still Missing

Published Jul 17, 2026, 1:56 PM EDT Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Critic on ScreenRant's TV team, covering new-release and classic TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy. Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones). Naruto remains one of the most iconic anime franchises of all time, but it has been years since this story stood in the spotlight. Creator Masashi Kishimoto kicked off his manga way back in 1999, and by the time the anime arrived in the United States in 2005, word had already spread that this series was something exceptional. Naruto is credited for introducing a broader audience to the world of anime, and that's a legacy that should never be forgotten. Still, things have really slowed down in recent years. The Naruto manga officially wrapped up in 2014, while the anime brought Shippuden to a close in 2017. That wasn't quite the end, however. The franchise was already made up of the full manga series, the two-part anime series, and several movies, so the next obvious avenue was a sequel series. That's where Boruto: Naruto Next Generation came in, which has now expanded into Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Unfortunately, Boruto hasn't been quite as popular as Naruto. The anime adaptation of Two Blue Vortex has yet to officially premiere, but since Naruto Next Generation claimed such a modest audience, it's unlikely that this newest installment will bring back the sort of attention the Naruto franchise deserves. Thankfully, however, the creative team behind this story is officially diving into unexplored territory. A live-action Naruto movie is on the way. This Is The Perfect Next Step For The Naruto Franchise Naruto isn't just getting a straight-to-streaming live-action film. The upcoming project is expected to be a major production and will receive a global theatrical premiere. Produced by Lionsgate, the Naruto film is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), who is working closely with Kishimoto to ensure the series is faithfully adapted to live action. While the movie is still in the earliest stages of production, there is a whole lot to look forward to here. Anime has been a beloved medium for generations, but it's not for everyone. We've seen recently that adapting one of these stories into live-action is a fantastic way to grab brand new viewers. If done right, these projects have the potential to capture the hearts of even those who don't traditionally enjoy anime, all while keeping fans of the original series feeling pleasantly nostalgic. This is what happened with Netflix's One Piece, and we have every reason to believe Naruto will follow a similar path. Of course, a live-action Naruto movie isn't exactly what many fans wanted. Given how long it has been since the anime began, fans have been requesting a modern animated remake that replaces the old hand-drawn style of earlier installments with the quality we are more used to today. Still, it's worth noting that an anime remake would, once again, appeal only to existing fans. Now is the perfect time for Naruto to expand into live-action, and with a larger audience, a remake anime series would be a better long-term investment. The World Of Live-Action Anime Adaptations Has Completely Changed Image via MovieStillsDB Once upon a time, the promise of a live-action Naruto movie wouldn't have been so exciting. There have been dozens of attempts to bring anime to the big screen over the years, but the result often falls flat. We all remember the horror that was Dragonball Evolution (2005) or Netflix's 2019 movie Death Note. These are far from the only examples of atrocious attempts at adapting animated stories, but in recent years, the tides have changed. One Piece is easily the greatest testament to what live-action anime adaptation can be. The Netflix TV show manages to capture the heart and soul of anime while remaining visually and thematically appealing to a broader audience. One Piece has always been popular and has held on to its place in popular media significantly longer than Naruto. However, the live-action TV show has still inspired a wave of renewed love and appreciation. The key will be for Lionsgate's Naruto movie to pay close attention to why Netflix's One Piece has done so well. In truth, success comes down entirely to respect for and faithfulness to the source material. If things are done right, the live-action Naruto will begin with the Land of Waves arc, just as the manga and anime did, and the story will be largely unaltered. The fact that Kishimoto is on board is promising. We can assume the anime creator will defend his work and ensure that things are perfect before the Naruto movie sees the light of day. TV Show(s) Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Video Game(s) Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (2003), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja, Naruto: The Broken Bond, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Naruto Shippuden Dragon Blade Chronicles, Naruto: Path Of The Ninja, Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections First Film Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow First TV Show Naruto Cast Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei Latest Film Boruto: Naruto the Movie