The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Naruto is advancing as Lionsgate announces a global casting call to find actors for the iconic roles of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, the core members of Team 7. This marks a significant step forward in bringing the beloved anime and manga series to Hollywood audiences for the first time.
The announcement was made via the official Naruto social media channels, in partnership with Lionsgate, signaling the start of a worldwide search for the talents who will portray these legendary characters. As the film remains in pre-production, the casting call represents the initial phase of assembling the cast that will bring Masashi Kishimoto’s celebrated universe to the big screen.
Directorial Vision and Screenplay Completion
Destin Daniel Cretton, known for directing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the Spider-Man: Brand New Day series, is at the helm of this project. The screenplay, penned by Taha Huo, has been finalized since 2024, laying the narrative foundation for the film’s progression. Despite the lengthy development period, no official release date has been announced yet.
In unveiling the casting call, Cretton expressed his enthusiasm: “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. 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, the creator of Naruto, shared his excitement as well, stating, “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.”