One of the most influential manga of all time, Naruto, is all set for its final movie!
According to animenewsnetork, the Japanese film distributor TOHO announced on its website on Wednesday that the eighth Naruto film will open next summer. TOHO just unveiled its 2011 movie lineup at a Wednesday press conference in Tokyo. Masahiko Murata will direct the film as he has already done for episodes of Naruto and Naruto Shippūden as well as the last two films, Naruto Shippūden: Hi no Ishi o Tsugumono and Naruto Shippūden: The Lost Tower. Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of the title character, will head the new film's cast.
Naruto Shippūden: The Lost Tower, the fourth Naruto Shippūden film (and seventh Naruto film overall), opened on July 31.
See sketches of Sakura, Sai, and Shikamaru's appearances surfaced online, see them below:
According To Anime News Authority, a renowned source for anime news in Japan, an eighth movie adaptation is actually being discussed but details are yet to be disclosed. Currently, Naruto has a movie set to hit the big screen this 2014 which is also the tenth overall Naruto movie and seventh from the Shipuuden storyline. This will make it the first ever movie in the franchise to be released two years after the previous film. The movie was announced at the annual Jump Festa date. Thus, fans can expect another film next year or in 2016.
If this comes into fruition, it will be the perfect ending for one of the biggest anime franchise in Japan which is already nearing its conclusion.
Currently, the manga arc is in the Infinite Tsukoyomi War which covers the official revival of Madara Uchiha and his attempt to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan after the defeat of Obito Uchiha. This arc is preceded by the Ten-Tails Revival Arc.
What do you think readers? Will this be the biggest Naruto movie ever? Sound off in the comments section below!