The Naruto franchise is in an active period of cross-media expansion in mid-2026, with a live-action film in casting, a new trading card game announced for 2027, a non-verbal stage show set for 2027, and multiple merchandise collaborations and streaming expansions underway.
In mid-2026, the Naruto franchise is advancing on multiple fronts. The live-action Hollywood adaptation, in development since Lionsgate secured the rights in 2015, moved into active casting in July with a global search for the three Team 7 roles. Director Destin Daniel Cretton and original author Masashi Kishimoto both released statements about the search. A release date and filming schedule have not been announced.
Bandai Card Games announced a new Naruto Card Game for a worldwide simultaneous release in 2027, with the first public trial at Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis. The announcement included a new illustration and comment from Kishimoto as part of the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations. Bandai Spirits also announced an S.H.Figuarts Minato Namikaze [Kurama Link Mode] figure at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, and Banpresto revealed a slate of prize figures for late 2026, including a VIBRATION STARS Naruto and a Portrelic diorama of Sasuke and Itachi.
A non-verbal live stage show, "Ninja Show Naruto," is set to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027, using physical performance and Kabuki stage mechanisms. Europe's first permanent Naruto-themed area, Naruto - Konoha Land, opened in southern France in April 2026, with a grand opening ceremony in June. Crunchyroll expanded its Indian-language dub offerings for Naruto Shippuden, adding Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu audio starting in July 2026. A collaboration with PUBG MOBILE launched in July 2026, recreating locations from the anime and offering over USD 600 in free items. Abema aired all 720 episodes of the TV anime for free daily from June 26 to July 25, 2026.
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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.
The Hollywood Reporter says Charles Melton, an Emmy-nominated actor known for Riverdale and Beef, is in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film. Destin Daniel Cretton directs and produces through Hisako. The project began a global casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in July.
The Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga will skip the October issue of V Jump, which ships August 21, and return in the November issue shipping September 18. The announcement came Friday from the official Naruto and Boruto franchise X account. The manga moved to V Jump in July 2019 after launching in Weekly Shonen Jump in May 2016, and Masashi Kishimoto has written the story since November 2020.
Shueisha launched MANGA MILLION on August 6, a global digital service commemorating its 100th anniversary. The service offers approximately 400 manga titles, totaling 1 million pages, translated into over 100 languages, free worldwide with no registration required. The distribution period runs through the end of December 2027. The lineup includes One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kingdom, Oshi no Ko, Spy x Family, and Chainsaw Man, plus more than 150 shojo and josei titles.
Kosuke Yahagi, first editor for both Hunter x Hunter and Naruto, discussed the manga's production in a YouTube interview. He said Yoshihiro Togashi often withheld story details during meetings, replying 'after I draw it.' Yahagi also recalled that Naruto's Chunin Exam arc was conceived after the Wave arc ended, with no next arc planned.
Amazon Prime Video announced its August 2026 streaming lineup on July 31. New additions include the film Ready Player One, four Odoru Daisousasen theatrical films, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series and movies, and both Naruto anime series. The full list spans Japanese and international films, dramas, anime, and variety content.
Bandai unveiled new details for the Naruto Card Game on July 29, ahead of Gen Con 2026. The trading card game will feature five card types, including Leader, Character, EX Character, Chakra, and Appearance cards. It is slated for a worldwide release in 2027, with appearances planned at multiple conventions through late 2026.
Shueisha announced on Thursday the launch of Manga Million, a global digital manga platform offering over one million pages of translated manga from approximately 400 titles in more than 100 languages. The service is available worldwide for a limited time, free of charge and without registration. The launch lineup includes One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kingdom, Oshi no Ko, Spy x Family, Chainsaw Man, Nana, and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, among others. More than 150 of the titles are shojo manga. According to Shueisha, nearly 300 titles are receiving their first-ever translations, and 50 works have been translated into multiple languages. The platform also includes special chapters and one-shots, such as Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back. Shueisha confirmed to Anime News Network that AI translation was not used for the project. The initiative is part of Shueisha's 100th anniversary celebration. Shuhei Hosono, Editor-in-Chief of Manga Plus by Shueisha, initiated the project, which was developed across Shueisha's editorial divisions with support from international licensing partners.
MegaHouse is re-releasing the NARUTO Gals Tenten figure from Naruto Shippuden, with reservations opening August 7, 2026 at 13:00 JST. The figure captures Tenten in her trademark Chinese-style outfit and odango hairstyle, posed atop a hidden weapon (iron ball) with an unfurled scroll. It stands approximately 240mm tall and is made of ABS and PVC. The prototype was crafted by Ryutaro Kaminaga, with painting by Taumo Kei and Pinpoint. Priced at 26,180 yen (tax included), the figure is scheduled to ship in January 2027. It will be available exclusively at Premium Bandai, Jump Characters Store, AmiAmi, and Animate. This reprint follows the original release and is part of MegaHouse's ongoing NARUTO Gals line, which has seen several re-releases. The figure's dynamic pose highlights Tenten's specialty as a weapons user, a detail fans of the series will recognize.
Bandai Card Games released two trailers for Naruto Card Game, a new trading card game based on the Naruto series, introducing cards and rules. The game launches worldwide in 2027, with tutorial sessions at Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis, where attendees can receive a promotional card and other items.
Bandai Spirits announced a new S.H.Figuarts action figure of Minato Namikaze in his Kurama Link Mode from the anime Naruto Shippuden. The figure recreates the Fourth Hokage's appearance during the Fourth Shinobi World War, when he channeled the Nine-Tails' power. It stands approximately 150mm tall and is made of PVC and ABS. The set includes the main body, seven interchangeable hand parts (four left, three right), three interchangeable expression parts, a kunai, and a Giant Rasengan. A bonus part is an interchangeable expression piece compatible with the separately sold S.H.Figuarts Uzumaki Naruto figure titled "Power That Connected Countless Feelings in His Heart." Pre-orders open on July 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM JST through the Premium Bandai Tamashii Web Store. The figure is priced at 11,000 yen (tax included) and is scheduled to ship in February 2027. The product is intended for ages 15 and up and is initially released in Japan.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Bandai Spirits announced three new S.H.Figuarts figures from major anime franchises. From 'Naruto Shippuden', the S.H.Figuarts Minato Namikaze [Kurama Link Mode] -The Flash That Tears Through Darkness- includes kunai and a Giant Rasengan effect part. From 'My Hero Academia', the S.H.Figuarts Dark Deku figure reproduces battle-damaged costume details and dirt with precise sculpting and coloring. Both figures will open for pre-order in Japan at the Premium Bandai Tamashii Web Store on July 28, 2026 at 16:00 JST. From 'Dragon Ball Z', the S.H.Figuarts Full Power Frieza -Battle Scarred Edition- was also announced, but further details on its release are pending. Pre-orders for the Minato and Dark Deku figures began in North America on July 25, 2026. The announcements were made via the Tamashii Nations official X account during the convention.
The Naruto Shippuden collaboration with GiGO will run from August 8 to August 30, 2026, at GiGO group stores nationwide and on the GiGO ONLINE CRANE platform. Exclusive prizes include a Madara Uchiha figure (approximately 23 cm) and five types of Chibi Chibi Gurumi plush toys (approximately 8.5 cm each). A must-buy campaign offers 11 types of Clan Crest Can Badges, given randomly one per 500 yen play on eligible machines. A repost campaign on X, running from July 24 to August 7, will award a full set of the 11 can badges to three winners. The collaboration also includes a separate Jujutsu Kaisen 5th anniversary event with GiGO starting July 31, featuring its own exclusive prizes, collaboration taiyaki, novelty drinks, and pop-up shops. The Naruto campaign is limited to available quantities, and prizes vary by store.
Banpresto announced a slate of Naruto prize figures for the final months of 2026, including a VIBRATION STARS figure of Naruto Uzumaki wearing the Nine-Tails' cloak and a Portrelic diorama of Sasuke and Itachi's final parting during the Fourth Great Ninja War. The company also plans three summoning figures pairing ninja with their giant contracted beasts: Jiraiya and Gamabunta in October, Tsunade and Katsuyu in November, and Orochimaru and Manda in December. The summoning figures will be released monthly for three consecutive months starting in October. The VIBRATION STARS Naruto and the Portrelic Sasuke and Itachi piece are both scheduled for December. Banpresto directed collectors to its official account for further details. The figures are part of the company's ongoing prize figure lineup for the Naruto franchise, which has seen regular releases since the series' television run.
Crunchyroll has announced a major expansion of its Indian-language dub offerings, adding Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu audio for a slate of catalog titles and summer 2026 premieres. Naruto Shippuden is now available in all four languages, while Haikyu!! To the Top season four and Haikyu!! Land vs Air debut their dubs on July 16. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest season two arrives July 15 and season three on August 5. Tokyo Ghoul begins its regional rollout with season one on July 22, followed by season two on August 12 and season three on September 2. New summer series include I Became a Legend after My 10-Year-Long Last Stand (July 24, Hindi weekly), Tomb Raider King and Trapped in a Dating Sim season two (July 29, all three languages), The Elusive Samurai season two (August 7, Hindi), Black Torch (August 29, Hindi), and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season three (August 30, Hindi). Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- season four part two launches in Hindi on October 7. Ongoing simuldub Clevatess season two is already rolling out weekly in all three languages. The streamer is doubling down on India's growing anime market by making hit titles available in multiple regional languages alongside their global releases.
Anime! Anime!'s annual reader survey asked which female character looks best in a yukata. Ran Mouri from Detective Conan took first place with about 20% support, followed by Hinata Hyuga from Naruto at about 13% and Mahiru Shiina from The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten at about 4%. The poll ran from June 9 to June 17 and received 434 responses.
Lionsgate and director Destin Daniel Cretton have opened a global casting search for the three main roles in the live-action Hollywood adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga. The search targets Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, the members of Team 7. The announcement was made on July 10, 2026, via the official Naruto franchise website. Director Cretton said in a statement that Kishimoto's story has inspired generations of fans worldwide and that he is thrilled to begin the search. Original author Masashi Kishimoto released a comment expressing excitement, calling the film's development a series of miracles and saying he looks forward to meeting the actors who will bring his characters to life. Casting for additional characters will be announced at a later date. The film is in pre-production and has been in development since Lionsgate secured the rights in 2015. Cretton, known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is directing and producing through his company Hisako. Tasha Huo was reported to be working on the script as of November 2023. A release date and filming schedule have not been announced.
Starting July 10, Nijigen no Mori's NARUTO & BORUTO Shinobi-Zato offers a limited-time event where participants perform the 44 hand seals for Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu. Staff guide participants through the sequence, and completing all 44 triggers a 50-liter water spray. A beginner version with 4 seals is also available. Participants receive one of four new Water Style stickers. The event runs daily from 15:00 until September 30.
KRAFTON released Version 4.5 of PUBG MOBILE on July 9, 2026, adding a collaboration with Naruto Shippuden. The update recreates locations from the anime, including the Hidden Leaf Village, Hokage Rock, and the Valley of the End, on the Erangel, Livik, and Sanhok maps. Players can use ninjutsu such as Rasengan, Chidori, Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, and Flying Thunder God Technique, which unlock gradually from July 9 to July 14. A boss battle against the Nine-Tailed Fox (Kurama) is available, with Kurama appearing in three states: slumbering, prowling, or alert. Starting July 17, a special mode lets squads defend the Hidden Leaf from a controlled Kurama. Collaboration costumes include sets for Naruto (Sage Mode and Six Paths Sage Mode), Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Hinata, Gaara, Tsunade, Madara, and Jiraiya, plus Akatsuki and Konoha Anbu sets. A giveaway offers over USD 600 in free items, including the Young Naruto set, Fourth Hokage's Cloak, and the song 'Blue Bird'. An animated short by Studio Pierrot accompanies the update. Offline events are planned in multiple countries, including a celebration in Jakarta from July 10 to 16.
Premium Bandai is accepting reservations for a re-release of the G.E.M. Series Naruto Shippuden Uzumaki Naruto Shinobi World War Ver. figure. Priced at 17,600 yen, it ships in December 2026 and recreates Naruto falling while forming hand signs, with a mesh chain mail texture.
Crunchyroll announced it will begin streaming Naruto Shippuden with Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs in India starting July 6. The Hindi dub will be exclusive to Crunchyroll. The dubbed episodes will roll out in batches through September 2026, covering the first 220 episodes of the anime. The move is part of Crunchyroll's push to expand anime's reach in India, where demand for local-language content is growing. Naruto Shippuden follows a teenage Naruto returning to his village to face the Akatsuki organization, with higher stakes and bigger battles. The series is one of the biggest franchises in anime, and the addition of regional dubs aims to make it more accessible to Indian audiences. The rollout will include all three languages, with episodes releasing in phases over the next few months.
The Naruto franchise is expanding its live entertainment offerings with a new non-verbal stage show titled "Ninja Show Naruto," set to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027. Unlike previous stage adaptations, the production will tell its story without spoken dialogue, relying on physical performance, acrobatics, aerial stunts, projection mapping, and the theater's traditional Kabuki stage mechanisms. The show aims to be accessible to audiences regardless of language. Yuri Takahashi and Ryuma Aoi will alternate in the role of Naruto Uzumaki, with REI as Sasuke Uchiha, Yui Oikawa as Sakura Haruno, and HIROMA as Kakashi Hatake. Go Ueki, whose previous credits include "Attack on Titan: The Musical" and "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon," is directing. Neil Dorward of Cirque du Soleil is serving as global creative consultant, and Shinjiro Kameda is handling composition. A teaser visual and announcement trailer have also been released alongside the cast and staff details.
Abema announced on June 25 that it will open a dedicated Naruto channel and broadcast all 720 episodes of the TV anime, from the original series through Naruto Shippuden, for free daily from June 26 to July 25. The real-time limited free broadcast marks the first time Abema has opened a channel for the series.
Bandai Spirits' Ichiban Kuji lottery for Naruto Shippuden: The Kazekage Rescue Arc launches on June 26, 2026, at 790 yen per draw. The top prizes are MASTERLISE figures up to 25 cm tall, including A Prize Naruto Uzumaki, B Prize Haruno Sakura, C Prize Hatake Kakashi, D Prize Gaara, and E Prize Sasori. Additional prizes include desktop figures of Kurama and explosive clay, a stamp and note collection, acrylic charms from the -NARUTO 72 series- illustrations, and a visual sheet set featuring Akatsuki members. The Last One Prize, awarded to the person who pulls the final ticket, is a MASTERLISE figure of Deidara in a dynamic pose. On social media, fans have praised the lineup, calling the Deidara figure 'too amazing' and 'too cool'. The lottery will be available at Seven-Eleven stores, Ito-Yokado stores, Yumetown stores, and other locations while supplies last.
CyberConnect2 launched the Scenario Designer Training School 2026 audition project on June 23 to find scenario designers for anime-licensed games. The first-round online test is available on a special website, with questions covering series the studio has adapted, including Naruto, Demon Slayer, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Dragon Ball. The deadline is August 2.
MegaHouse's G.E.M. Series has unveiled first color samples of Attack on Titan palm-sized Eren and Levi figures, plus first prototypes of Bungo Stray Dogs Dazai and Naruto Shippuden Minato. Re-releases of Naruto, Demon Slayer, and Gintama figures were also announced, alongside a Premium Bandai lottery event.
To mark Father's Day, Nijimen surveyed its readers on their favorite father characters in anime and manga. The top 10 list includes Crayon Shin-chan's Nohara Hiroshi, Pokémon's Norman, Kingdom's Ō Sen, Naruto's Namikaze Minato, My Hero Academia's Endeavor, and Sakamoto Days' Sakamoto Taro, among others.
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.
Japan's Minister of State for Economic Security, Kimi Onoda, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's use of Naruto imagery in a generative AI video posted on Truth Social on June 6. Onoda said the use risked damaging the work's reputation and urged caution, even if it does not constitute clear copyright infringement.
Europe's first Naruto-themed area, Naruto - Konoha Land, opened on April 4, 2026, at Parc Spirou Provence in southern France. A grand opening ceremony was held on June 4 with TV Tokyo and other partners. The area features attractions like the Kyubi Unleashed roller coaster and a Rasengan spinning ride, plus life-sized statues of 10 characters. Since opening, park attendance rose 67.7% compared to April 2025.
The 2014 film 'The Last: Naruto the Movie' is available for unlimited streaming on seven Japanese services as of June 2026, according to Anime Anime. The platforms are DMM TV, U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video (via the Anime Times channel), Lemino, d Anime Store, Hulu, and Netflix. DMM TV is the cheapest option at 550 yen per month with a 14-day free trial and 550 bonus points for new users. U-NEXT offers a 31-day free trial at 2,189 yen per month. The film is the official canon epilogue to the main Naruto story, set two years after the Fourth Ninja War. It depicts Naruto and Hinata's relationship as the moon threatens to collide with Earth. Tsuneo Kobayashi directed the film. Junko Takeuchi voices Naruto, and Nana Mizuki voices Hinata. The film is not available on Disney Plus, ABEMA, FOD, TELASA, or YouTube.
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.
Hololive VTuber Nerissa Ravencroft sat down with Anime News Network to discuss her classical singing training, the process of adapting Japanese lyrics to English, her favorite Hololive songs, and her family streams. She also touched on her bond with her Hololive Advent genmates and her history as a singer.
Mega House is releasing a palm-sized figure of Itachi Uchiha from Naruto Shippuden in November 2026. The company is also re-releasing the fifth series of its MEGA CAT PROJECT Nyarto! line, featuring eight cat versions of characters including Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and young Itachi.
The NARUTO / BORUTO Official YouTube channel, which launched in March 2026, released a digest video of the Wave Country arc on March 12. The arc, which is the first major mission for Team 7, covers the team's introduction to Kakashi, his Copy Ninja technique, and the debut of his original jutsu Chidori. The story also features the popular antagonists Zabuza Momochi and Haku, who later reappear in the Fourth Great Ninja War via the Impure World Reincarnation. Fan comments on the video praised the arc's emotional depth and the character moments between Zabuza and Haku. The digest omits one notable scene: the first coordinated attack between Naruto and Sasuke using the Windmill Triple Blade Shadow Shuriken technique. The channel also uploaded a special music video on March 19 featuring Kakashi and Obito set to KANA-BOON's "Silhouette."
Japanese hip-hop group Home Made Kazoku announced on May 19 that they are ending their decade-long hiatus and returning to music under their original label Ki/oon Music. The trio, known for anime theme songs, will start with festival appearances this summer.
A line of 22 limited-edition NARUTO Shippuden items will go on sale at Thank You Mart stores across Japan starting in mid-June 2026. This is the first time the convenience store chain has carried exclusive merchandise from the TV anime. The lineup includes practical home goods such as laundry nets and acrylic bangs clips, as well as collectible items like random can badges and acrylic keychains. Prices range from 390 yen to 429 yen including tax for most items. Advance reservations are available through the official online shop. The merchandise features motifs representing each ninja village and characters including Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The NARUTO manga, created by Masashi Kishimoto, began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 and concluded in 2014 with 700 chapters. The TV anime aired from 2002, with NARUTO Shippuden running from 2007 to March 2017. The franchise has sold over 250 million copies worldwide across more than 60 countries and regions.
Five new Naruto Shippuden T-shirts featuring Rasengan, Chidori, Kurama, and Pain's Six Paths motifs go on early sale at Fuji-Q Highland in late May 2026. General release follows in late July. Each shirt costs 3,300 yen.