Naruto Live Action Movie Reportedly Moving Forward At Lionsgate

Lionsgate is moving forward with its adaptation of the Masashi Kishimoto's popular manga seires Naruto, according to a report from The Tracking Board.

The report says that up and coming director Michael Gracey will direct the film, which is being produced by Avi Arad, producer of the Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man films.

Gracey comes from a background in animation and effects, and Naruto is one of several big directorial projects he is said to have in the works. He's also working on an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches, the Jim Henson biopic Muppet Man, and the P.T. Barnum musical The Greatest Showman on Earth.

The Naruto series recently ended, after a 15 year run. The story focuses on Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of one day become his village's Hokage, or acknowledged leader. The series has already been adapted into a popular anime series, and a new animated movie, Boruto: Naruto the Movie, is set to premiere in Japan on Aug. 7 before debuting in the United States in October.