From resting as a draft on the desk of Kishimoto Sensei (Masashi Kishimoto) in 1997 to one of the most relevant franchises in the world even in 2026, Naruto has come a long way!
Starting as just a one-shot manga, today Naruto has branched out into all possible entertainment outlets. Manga, anime, video games, movies, merchandise, you name it! While the series officially continues in the form of its sequel, Boruto, there is just something exceptionally magical about its predecessor, which started it all.
With Naruto’s 25th Anniversary approaching in 2027, brand new projects are under development to bless the fans. This includes a confirmed new stage production, a mysterious new video game, and TV Tokyo openly calling this the start of a fresh chapter for the franchise.
While there is a lot we still don’t know about the huge comeback, I have compiled everything that has been confirmed so far.
The Naruto Ninja Show Is Officially Confirmed
Let’s start with the one piece of news that is completely locked in. Naruto Ninja Show, a brand new Japanese-UK theatrical production, is set to debut in February 2027 and run through June 2027. It premieres at the Minami-za Theater in Kyoto and has already been billed as “the biggest Naruto theatrical production in history.”
For now, all we have is a badass intro trailer of Naruto, and I would be lying if I said that I never imagined a well-made theatrical experience for the series. And I am sure most of the Naruto fans will agree with me. Apart from the trailer, here are all the details confirmed about the Naruto Ninja Show:
| Detail | Information |
| Premiere date | February 2027 |
| Run length | February through June 2027 |
| Location | Minami-za Theater, Kyoto |
| Story covered | The “Childhood” arc (Naruto: Shippuden episodes 480-483) |
| Dialogue | Completely non-verbal, told through action and movement only |
| Director | Go Ueki (previously worked on Attack on Titan and Sailor Moon stage adaptations) |
| Global creative consultant | Neil Dorward (known for his work with Cirque du Soleil) |
Since the production relies entirely on physical performance rather than spoken dialogue, language will not be a barrier for international fans hoping to catch it in person. Expect a mix of live-action performance, acrobatics, aerial techniques, projection mapping, and the kind of stage mechanisms unique to Minami-za as a traditional kabuki theater.
The confirmed cast includes Yuuri Takahashi and Ryuma Aoi sharing the role of Naruto, alongside REI as Sasuke Uchiha, Yui Oikawa as Sakura Haruno, and HIROMA as Kakashi Hatake.
A New Naruto Game Is Also Confirmed For 2027
You read that right: apart from the stage show, TV Tokyo confirmed during an investor Q&A following its latest financial results briefing that a new Naruto video game is officially in development. This announcement ties directly into the franchise’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
A few things are already clear about this game:
- It is being developed with a new partner, different from CyberConnect2 and Bandai, who handled previous major Naruto titles
- The exact studio involved has not been revealed yet
- The game is scheduled for a 2027 release, though a specific date has not been confirmed
TV Tokyo’s official comment on this framed the anniversary as something much bigger than a one-off release:
“We see the 25th anniversary as the beginning of a new stage, and we have several projects planned to capture that. New projects, including videos and games developed with new partners, are planned for 2027 and beyond.”
New Video Projects Are Confirmed, But Details Are Still Unclear
Alongside the game, TV Tokyo also confirmed that new video projects are coming as part of the 25th anniversary push. However, this is where things get less specific. TV Tokyo has not clarified exactly what form these projects will take.
What we do know is that we have been waiting on four previously promised Naruto anime episodes, first announced back in 2023 by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. Those episodes ended up facing a significant, indefinite delay, and no major updates have surfaced since. It remains possible these four episodes are the “video projects” referenced in the anniversary announcement, potentially arriving in late 2026 or 2027. However, there is no way to say for sure.
Beyond that, TV Tokyo has stated only that certain collaboration projects, including ones potentially tied to theme parks, cannot be discussed in detail yet since the information has not been officially released.
Why Naruto Is Getting This Much Investment Right Now?
This level of attention is not happening by accident. There are mainly two reasons behind it. The first is obviously the series’ silver jubilee, and the second is the revenue-making power of the franchise. TV Tokyo’s fiscal report reportedly shows Naruto as still the highest revenue-generating series for the station, even a decade after the original anime concluded. Boruto, the franchise’s ongoing continuation, reportedly finished second in the same report. That combination appears to be driving TV Tokyo’s decision to invest more heavily in reviving the original Naruto brand rather than relying solely on Boruto going forward.
While the real reason for Naruto’s major comeback may swing between gratitude towards fans and a serious revenue collection opportunity, the silver jubilee is a big deal for the community. Hence, 2027 is going to be a special year for fans from all over the world, including the UK and US. And once again we can relive the gush of that WILL OF FIRE that made us fall in love with Naruto!
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