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Live-Action Naruto Film Launches Global Casting Search for Team 7

The casting call is the first concrete production milestone for a project that has been in development for over a decade, signaling that the film is moving past the scripting phase into pre-production.

Key Facts

  • Lionsgate launched a worldwide casting search on July 10, 2026, for the roles of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
  • Destin Daniel Cretton is directing the live-action Naruto film and producing through his company Hisako.
  • Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014, totaling 72 volumes.
  • Lionsgate first secured the rights to adapt Naruto into a live-action film in 2015.

Reporting from 3 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner, Animehunch.

Live-Action Naruto Film Launches Global Casting Search for Team 7

Lionsgate has opened a worldwide casting search for the three lead roles in its live-action film adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga, the franchise's official website announced on July 10. The studio is seeking actors for Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, the three members of Team 7. Casting for other characters will be announced at a later date. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is directing the film and producing through his company Hisako alongside Jeyun Munford. Producers include Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, as well as Jeremy Latcham. In a statement, Cretton said he was honored to bring Kishimoto's world to the big screen in live action for the first time. Kishimoto also commented, saying he could not believe the film is becoming a Hollywood movie and that he is looking forward to meeting the actors who will play his characters. Tasha Huo was reported to be working on the script as of November 2023. Lionsgate first secured the rights to adapt the manga in 2015, and Cretton was announced as director in 2024.

Destin Daniel Cretton is also attached to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Anime Corner noted. The casting call is open globally, with no specific age range or nationality requirements listed in the announcement. Lionsgate first secured the rights to adapt the manga in 2015, and the project has cycled through several writers and directors since then. The Hollywood Reporter reported in August 2017 that Jon and Erich Hoeber (Red, Red 2) were on board to rewrite the script. Collider reported in March 2018 that Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), then attached to direct, stated the staff were still working on the script because he wanted to ensure Kishimoto's approval. It is currently unclear if any of those people besides Tasha Huo are still involved, Anime News Network noted.

Kishimoto's full statement, published by multiple outlets, reads: "Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, Naruto, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie! And an even greater miracle is that the film will be directed by the one and only Destin Daniel Cretton. I still cannot believe it! If so many miracles have already come together, then let us hope for even more. I am eagerly looking forward to the miraculous encounters that will bring us extraordinary and passionate actors! I cannot wait to meet my characters in the film!"

Alongside the film, a non-verbal live-action stage show is set to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February until June 2027, and a new Naruto card game is planned for 2027.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Naruto Lionsgate

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