After One Piece Live Action, another one of the Big Three will soon make its live-action debut. It has been a couple of years since the Naruto live-action movie was announced. Since then, the hype has been building, and the expectations have already skyrocketed. After Netflix did wonders with One Piece, Lionsgate will be looking to recreate the same success with Naruto.
One of the important reasons for the success of One Piece was the involvement of Eiichiro Oda with the production team, along with the directors who were enthusiastic about the project. Michael Gracey is involved with the Naruto live-action movie and said that he won’t continue if Masashi Kishimoto does not approve the script. Tons of other Hollywood directors could do a better job than him. Here is a list of directors who could be a great choice for Naruto Live Action, instead of Michael Gracey.
5. Chad Stahelski
Chad Stahelski is the director of the famous John Wick movie franchise. With each John Wick movie, he outdid himself. One of his greatest abilities is to shoot action sequences effortlessly. His action sequences are the best, and there are hardly any directors who come close to him in this regard. Naruto has a lot of fights, with most of them being hand-to-hand combat. Chad Stahelski would be the perfect one to portray the fights in live action. John Wick had several hand-to-hand combat scenes, and each of them was top-notch. So, if he takes the role of the director of Naruto live-action, the fandom will be in for a ride.
4. Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro is one of the most celebrated directors of all time, with multiple Academy and BAFTA Awards to his name. His works include Hellboy, The Shape of Water, Pacific Rim, etc. He has made movies based on comics and has a knack for using CGI in his movies. He is one of the better candidates to be the director of Naruto live-action. His experience and expertise in CGI could be the game changer for Naruto. The fans would love to see a crazy Rasenshuriken or a Chidori, and nothing would be possible without CGI. Apart from that his color palette seems extensively unique.
3. Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is probably one of the greatest directors that Hollywood has ever produced. Whatever project he does, he completely gets immersed in it and makes something beautiful out of it. Everything is a game of perfection for him. Steven Spielberg taking up the Naruto live-action project will be a dream come true for the Naruto fans.
Previously, he has worked on the Jurassic Park franchise, E. T., Ready Player One, etc., that were mostly based on CGI. So, the use of VFX will be nothing new to him. Moreover, Naruto has a great story, and being a great storyteller himself, it will be a match made in heaven.
2. Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi’s presence of mind and sense of humor has made him one of the most promising directors in Hollywood. He has directed Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder. So, he already has an idea about how to direct comic-based movies. Action, drama, love, comedy, etc., can all be found in his works. One of the best things about him is his sense of humor.
There are several comic moments in the Naruto anime, especially with the main protagonist and his teacher, Jiraiya, and Kakashi, and his pupil, Konohamaru. Taika Waititi could bring out the best in them with his direction. A comic relief in-between serious moments will make the mood lighter.
1. Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder is one of the most sought-after directors when it comes to live adaptations. His venture in the DC universe and the Watchmen stories has been a global success. Netflix’s One Piece Live Action had great visuals, and it was one of the prime reasons it appealed to so many people. With Justice League Snyder Cut, Zack Snyder proved that his visuals were second to none. If he took up the Naruto live-action project, it could be a bigger hit than One Piece. His camera work is exceptional, and his narrative skills could be game-changing in the anime live adaptation genre.
