The live action Naruto The film is one step closer to completion.

In an interview with Weekly entertainmentOriginal writer Tasha Huo announces that her “script is finished” for the first live-action anime adaptation on the big screen, and that new writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton is now “doing his thing” with the story while the filmmaker takes over the project ahead of filming.

The mind behind it Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings And Short term 12 was announced as the film’s new director (and screenwriter, replacing Huo) back in February, following his success directing Marvel’s Shang Chi The film grossed $432 million at the worldwide box office (and that was during the pandemic).

Huo, who also serves as showrunner for Netflix’s upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft animated series, praises Cretton for his background as a producer of “his own writing and stories,” which she believes are “very personal and relatable” to viewers.

“I think it’s such a cool choice because it’s able to capture the nuances and uniqueness of Naruto without being distracted by the bigger picture. I think it’s something that someone who isn’t a fan or who is just looking for the money could do,” she says. “This is definitely a film that’s made out of love for Naruto, the character and his relationships.”

Before the Naruto The television series was launched in 2002 and its story began as the publication of a Japanese manga by Masashi Kishimoto in 1997.

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“When I heard about Destin’s involvement, it was right after I saw one of his blockbuster action films, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto,” Kishimoto told EW in a statement when Cretton was announced as the director of the live-action film. “After enjoying his other films and realizing that his strength lies in creating solid dramas about people, I was convinced that there was no other director for (Naruto). When I actually met Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was happy to accept my input and who firmly believed that we could work together in the production process.”

NarutoThe story of revolves around the title character, an orphaned warrior who was cast out from his community for harboring a demonic entity in his body. The character became popular with audiences around the world for her notable quirks, from her spiky hair to her love of ramen.

A release date for the live-action Naruto The film has yet to be announced.