More than two decades after they emerged as two of the biggest names in shonen anime, Naruto could be set to challenge One Piece once again. The upcoming live-action Naruto film is expected to bring the franchise back into the mainstream, potentially reigniting a rivalry that has long been dominated by One Piece.
According to ScreenRant, both franchises followed remarkably similar paths in their early years. Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga debuted in Japan in 1997, while Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto followed in 1999. Their anime adaptations arrived soon afterwards, with One Piece reaching US audiences in 2004 and Naruto making its Western debut in 2005.
Although both series enjoyed huge popularity in Japan, Naruto initially found greater success in the United States. It became a cultural phenomenon alongside titles such as Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z. Over time, however, its popularity declined, while One Piece steadily expanded its global audience.
Today, the One Piece anime remains ongoing and Netflix’s live-action adaptation has become a major international success. Naruto, meanwhile, has continued through its sequel series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, but has occupied a comparatively smaller place in mainstream entertainment.
That could soon change. After spending years in development, the live-action Naruto film is officially moving forward. Lionsgate recently confirmed that the project remains in production, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton attached to write and direct the film.
The project reached another milestone in July 2026 when Lionsgate and Cretton launched a global casting search for the lead roles of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. The announcement signalled that production is progressing after years of uncertainty.
Unlike many recent adaptations, the Naruto project is expected to receive a global theatrical release rather than debuting on a streaming platform. Given the original anime’s enduring popularity in the United States, the film is widely expected to become a major Hollywood release.
ScreenRant suggests the film could become One Piece’s strongest competitor in years, particularly if nostalgia draws longtime fans and casual audiences back to cinemas. However, the report also argues that the project’s chances of success may partly stem from the path paved by Netflix’s One Piece.
Live-action anime adaptations have traditionally struggled to win over audiences. Netflix’s One Piece changed that perception by preserving the colourful, exaggerated style of the original while successfully adapting it for live action. According to the report, Naruto will need to follow a similar approach by bringing its anime world to life rather than trying to make it resemble conventional cinema.
If the adaptation succeeds, Naruto could find itself competing with One Piece on the global stage for the first time in many years.
