Netflix is currently basking under the sun after its most ambitious live-action adaptation yet sailed off with One Piece. The show set aside all of the fans’ and critics’ apprehensions regarding it being a disaster. The streaming giant finally mastered the art of making successful live-action adaptations. However, the feat did not come without struggle. It took Netflix nearly six years of meticulous effort to bring One Piece to life. Now, Lionsgate looks to tread down the same path with its upcoming live-action Naruto movie.

However, there is no time frame specified for the movie’s completion. As a matter of fact, there has been no news ever since Lionsgate announced the film rights back in 2015. Therefore, fans beg a question: When?

How long will it take for the Naruto live-action movie to hit the screens?

Netflix made away with its biggest gamble yet with One Piece, thanks to its dedicated efforts. However, as with the Straw Hat Pirates, Naruto also commands a massively loyal fanbase. As such, any deviations or mis-service to the plot will hurt Lionsgate immeasurably. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the studio will look to plan the entire process as precisely as possible.

However, it seems that Naruto is already taking an even longer time than One Piece from being announced to being completed. The latter was announced by Netflix in 2017 and released this year on August 31—a span of six years. Meanwhile, there has been no news of the development of Naruto live-action since being announced in 2015, until now.

Recently, news of the project moving ahead to see the light of the day has come forth. Netflix’s The Witcher writer, Tasha Huo has turned in his draft for the movie. Additionally, Hugh Jackman’s The Greatest Showman director, Michael Gracey will be helming the project. Additionally, The Amazing Spiderman producer Avi Arad and Twilight’s Eric Feig will be serving as producers for the same. Nevertheless, bringing Masashi Kishimoto’s revered manga to life is not an easy task. Yet, if the writers and the studio work their way out, it could very well script history by being one of the biggest live-action manga-anime movies of all time! Or it could go very wrong.

As a matter of fact, Netflix has already managed to decode what it takes to make a successful live-action adaptation.

Netflix now knows what it takes to make a live-action adaptation after One Piece success

The streaming giant wowed the manga and anime fandoms when it enthralled the audience with its signature adaptation of One Piece. Although it took six years in the making, the results were obvious when the show debuted to an overwhelming 94% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, Netflix broke the ice when it first signed on the original manga creator, Eiichiro Oda onboard as an executive producer and a creative consultant. Oda made sure that the show followed his vision and respected the source.

Furthermore, Netflix never deviated or oversimplified the plot. The series brought over the characters and storylines from the manga without any distortion. Thus, the loyal fanbase returned the favor with an outpour of love and acclaim for the show. Perhaps, Lionsgate should take a page out of Netflix’s book when it comes to making live-action anime and manga but only the extent of One Piece. For, it is common knowledge that fans weren’t a fan of the platform’s other adaptations.

Have you watched One Piece yet? What are your expectations from the upcoming Naruto live-action movie? Let us know in the comments below.