Story perspectives

Charles Melton in Final Talks for Kakashi in Naruto Film

8/21/2026

Summary

Charles Melton Casts Kakashi

Charles Melton is in final talks to portray Kakashi Hatake in Destin Daniel Cretton’s live-action Naruto film.
Lionsgate is producing the film alongside producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Emmy Yu and Jeremy Latcham.
Director Cretton, also producing with Jeyun Munford through Hisako, plans to start filming around February 2027.
Melton holds a second-degree taekwondo black belt and competed in the Junior Olympics in Seoul.

Summary

Cretton Casts Team7

Cretton launched a worldwide casting search focused on Team 7, emphasizing mentor-ninja chemistry.
Lionsgate has owned the Naruto film rights since 2015, enduring years of development purgatory.
Cretton previously directed Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, giving him superhero experience.
Creator Masashi Kishimoto called the live-action project a “miracle” and “truly, truly surreal.”
Live-action manga adaptations have a rocky Hollywood record, fueling fan anxiety for the Naruto film.

History

Historical Context

In June 2010 Paramount Pictures released M. Night Shyamalan’s live-action *The Last Airbender*, a $150 million adaptation of Nickelodeon’s animated series that earned $319.7 million worldwide but was panned by critics (5% Rotten Tomatoes) and cancelled the planned trilogy. The backlash prompted studios industry to scrutinize future anime adaptations, fueling fan wariness of today’s Naruto live-action project efforts.

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Charles Melton Casts Kakashi

Charles Melton is in final talks to portray Kakashi Hatake in Destin Daniel Cretton’s live-action Naruto film.
Lionsgate is producing the film alongside producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Emmy Yu and Jeremy Latcham.
Director Cretton, also producing with Jeyun Munford through Hisako, plans to start filming around February 2027.
Melton holds a second-degree taekwondo black belt and competed in the Junior Olympics in Seoul.

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