Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon Explains What Destin Daniel Cretton Likes Most About Naruto and Why Team 7 Could Be the Movie’s Focus
Jacob Batalon, known for playing Ned Leeds in the Tom Holland Spider-Man films, recently offered insights into director Destin Daniel Cretton’s vision for an upcoming live-action Naruto adaptation. During an appearance on The Anime Effect podcast hosted by Crunchyroll on September 19, Batalon discussed what elements of the classic anime series appeal most to Cretton as he develops the film project.
While the full details of Batalon’s comments remain limited, the discussion points toward a potential focus on Team 7—the core group of protagonists from the original Naruto series consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, along with their mentor Kakashi Hatake. This information provides fans with early clues about the creative direction Cretton may be taking with the live-action adaptation.
The revelation comes as live-action adaptations of popular anime continue to attract major filmmaking talent. Cretton, known for his work on films like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, brings substantial credentials to the project. The involvement of personalities like Batalon in discussions about the adaptation suggests growing momentum and attention around the Naruto live-action project as development progresses.