The ambitious live-action adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s landmark manga Naruto has taken a major step toward assembling its core cast. Charles Melton is in final negotiations to portray Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja who mentors the young heroes of Team 7.
The project, which is set up at Lionsgate, is being written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Cretton arrives at the production with significant commercial momentum following the box-office success of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Stepping Into the Shoes of a Fan Favourite
Kakashi Hatake stands as one of the most enduring figures in the Naruto universe, recognizable by his silver hair, signature face mask, and concealed eye. Within the story, he serves as the teacher to Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, balancing a laid-back demeanour with formidable combat skill.
The casting of the sensei figure provides the production with its first anchor while an international search remains underway to discover the teenage actors who will play the three central apprentices.
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Securing the role also aligns with Melton’s personal background in athletics and martial arts. The actor holds a second-degree black belt in taekwondo, having previously competed in the Junior Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Melton has established a versatile career over recent years, breaking out on the television drama Riverdale before earning critical acclaim in Todd Haynes’s May December. His recent television turn in the second season of Netflix’s Beef earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series, alongside film roles in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell and Alex Garland’s Warfare.
A Long Road to the Big Screen
The journey to adapt Naruto into a live-action Hollywood feature has developed across more than a decade. The original manga ran from 1999 to 2014 in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump, selling more than 250 million copies worldwide and generating long-running animated television series.
Lionsgate first began developing an adaptation in 2014, but the production found firm footing after Cretton took charge of writing and directing duties.
“Kishimoto-sensei’s stories have inspired generations of fans around the world, and it’s an honor to bring his world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time,” Cretton previously stated when announcing the global casting search. “I’m thrilled to kick off this worldwide casting search for our Team 7 and to bring the incredible universe of Naruto to life!“
Masashi Kishimoto has offered his direct support to the production, expressing enthusiasm for Cretton’s vision and the casting process. The film is being produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu for Arad Productions alongside Jeremy Latcham, with Cretton and Jeyun Munford producing through their Hisako banner.
Production sources indicate that cameras are scheduled to begin rolling around February 2027.
