← all stories
Masashi Kishimoto
Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto franchise is in a licensing and adaptation cycle across cards, collectibles, and a Hollywood film, with multiple projects dated to 2026 and 2027. Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film is in casting, with Charles Melton in final talks for Kakashi and filming targeted around February 2027.
Synthesized from 4
Yomimono stories · updated
4d ago
Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto is active on several fronts at once. Bandai Card Games announced the Naruto Card Game during its Next Plan Presentation on June 18, with a worldwide simultaneous release set for 2027. Kishimoto drew a new illustration of Naruto and Sasuke holding cards and sent a comment hoping the cards reach fans. A first public trial is scheduled for Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, with tutorial sessions and a gift set that includes the CP-001 Chakra Card Gen Con 2026 Ver. promotional card. Card designs and a roadmap were set to follow on July 29, and the announcement landed during the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations.
The franchise's retail side is also moving. Bandai Spirits will release the Ichiban Kuji Naruto Shippuden Hidan and Kakuzu Edition on October 26 at 790 yen per draw, sold through Ichiban Kuji ONLINE and the official Ichiban Kuji shop, with online sales opening at 5:00 p.m. the same day. The MASTERLISE prizes cover Shikamaru Nara, Asuma Sarutobi, Hidan, and Kakuzu, with a Jashinism-themed rug mat among the lower tiers and a Naruto Uzumaki Wind Style: Rasenshuriken MASTERLISE figure as the Last One Prize.
On screen, Lionsgate is handling a live-action Naruto film with Destin Daniel Cretton directing. Charles Melton is in final negotiations for Kakashi Hatake, a worldwide casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura began in July, and filming is targeted around February 2027.
On the page, a story guide for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was released on June 4, condensing the first part into about 600 pages from 20 volumes with a cover by Mikio Ikemoto. Volume 8 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex launched the same day. Across the four stories, the throughline is a franchise running anniversary-era licensing, collectibles, and a film adaptation at the same time, with Kishimoto's own contribution limited to the card game illustration and comment.
Key facts
- Card game release
- Naruto Card Game is set for a worldwide simultaneous release in 2027. ↗
- Card game first public trial
- Tutorial sessions at Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, with a gift set including the CP-001 Chakra Card Gen Con 2026 Ver. promotional card, a backpack, a sticker, and a ticket to purchase an official playmat. ↗
- Kishimoto's contribution
- Provided a new illustration of Naruto and Sasuke holding cards and a comment hoping the cards reach fans. ↗
- Live-action film director
- Destin Daniel Cretton directs the Lionsgate live-action Naruto film. ↗
- Kakashi casting
- Charles Melton is in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake. ↗
- Film filming target
- Filming is targeted around February 2027, with a worldwide casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura begun the previous month. ↗
- Ichiban Kuji release
- Ichiban Kuji Naruto Shippuden Hidan and Kakuzu Edition releases October 26 at 790 yen per draw through Ichiban Kuji ONLINE and the official Ichiban Kuji shop. ↗
- MASTERLISE figure lineup
- Prizes A through D are MASTERLISE figures of Shikamaru Nara, Asuma Sarutobi, Hidan, and Kakuzu; the Last One Prize is a Naruto Uzumaki Wind Style: Rasenshuriken MASTERLISE figure. ↗
- Boruto story guide
- Released June 4, condensing the first part into about 600 pages from 20 volumes, with a cover by Mikio Ikemoto and a double-sided pinup poster. ↗
- Boruto: Two Blue Vortex
- Volume 8 launched on June 4. ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
All coverage
4d ago
TV Tokyo announced Project Rasengan on October 10, 2026 at New York Comic Con, a global initiative covering anime, manga, games, and trading cards for the Naruto franchise. The centerpiece is Naruto: Shadow Rising, a new manga written and illustrated by original creator Masashi Kishimoto. A brief announcement video showed an early glimpse, with further details due at the franchise's Jump Festa 2027 presentation on December 19 and 20, 2026. The project also includes Naruto x Ninku, a four-episode crossover anime with Ninku, the Koji Kiriyama ninja manga Kishimoto has said influenced Naruto. Both creators supervise all episodes. Studio Pierrot produces, with Noriyuki Abe directing and Tetsuya Nishio as character designer and chief animation director. Bandai Namco Entertainment will release the smartphone game Naruto Mobile worldwide, and BANDAI CARD GAMES will launch the NARUTO Card Game with a simultaneous worldwide release in June 2027, preceded by trial sessions and limited products from February 2027.
Oct 11
At the "NARUTO: What's Next?" panel at New York Comic Con on October 10, Masashi Kishimoto was announced as the writer and artist of a new manga in the Naruto franchise. A teaser video showed a possible title, read by sources as Shadow Rising Naruto or Naruto: Shadow Rising, and Anime Corner reports it as NARUTO: SHADOW RISING with Kishimoto set to draw the project. The panel grouped the manga with three other confirmed initiatives out of eight planned for 2027 through 2029 under the banner PROJECT RASENGAN: a four-episode Naruto and Ninku crossover anime, a NARUTO Card Game releasing in June 2027, and a new mobile game. More details are planned for Jump Festa '27 on December 19 and 20. Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki, and Noriaki Sugiyama, the voice of Sasuke Uchiha, attended as special guests.
Oct 3
Bandai Spirits will release the Ichiban Kuji Naruto Shippuden Hidan and Kakuzu Edition on October 26, priced at 790 yen per draw including tax, sold through Ichiban Kuji ONLINE and the official Ichiban Kuji shop. Online sales open at 5:00 p.m. the same day. Prizes A through D are MASTERLISE figures of Shikamaru Nara, Asuma Sarutobi, Hidan, and Kakuzu. Prize E is a rug mat themed after the Jashinism religion. Prize F is a Chokonokko Figure Akatsuki Ver. with ten kinds total, Prize G is a Pokotto Charm in six kinds, Prize H is a NARUTO 72 series acrylic charm in nine kinds, and Prize I is a variety sticker in ten kinds. The Last One Prize is a Naruto Uzumaki Wind Style: Rasenshuriken MASTERLISE figure.
Aug 21
Charles Melton is in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake in the Hollywood live-action film of Masashi Kishimoto's manga Naruto, handled by Lionsgate. Destin Daniel Cretton directs. A worldwide casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura began last month. Filming is targeted around February 2027.
Jun 19
Bandai Card Games announced a new trading card game, Naruto Card Game, on June 18 during its Next Plan Presentation. The game is based on Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga and is set for a worldwide simultaneous release in 2027. The first public trial will take place at Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, where attendees can participate in tutorial sessions. Participants will receive a gift set including a CP-001 Chakra Card Gen Con 2026 Ver. promotional card, a backpack, a sticker, and a ticket to purchase an official playmat. Additional details, including card designs and the game's roadmap, are scheduled for July 29. Kishimoto provided a new illustration of Naruto and Sasuke holding cards and a comment expressing his hope that the cards reach fans' hands and hearts. Bandai previously released a Naruto Collectible Card Game from 2006 to 2013. The announcement comes as part of the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Jun 4
A story guide for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was released on June 4. The single volume condenses the first part of the manga into about 600 pages, using selected episodes from 20 volumes, story digests, and columns. The cover is newly drawn by Mikio Ikemoto, and a double-sided pinup poster is included. Volume 8 of the second part, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, also launched today.