- Primary Subject: The upcoming live-action Naruto movie adaptation by Lionsgate.
- Key Update: Director Destin Daniel Cretton and Lionsgate have officially launched a worldwide casting search to find the lead actors for Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Lionsgate has launched an open, global casting search to find the actors for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in the upcoming live-action film.
Get your headbands ready, ninjas—the live-action Hidden Leaf Village is officially looking for its residents. After being trapped in Hollywood development hell for more than a decade, Lionsgate's highly anticipated live-action Naruto feature film has finally taken its most monumental leap forward yet.
Lionsgate Launches Global Casting Search to Find Actors for Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke
Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: Brand New Day) broke the internet by officially announcing a worldwide open casting call to find the central trio of Team 7.
“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,” Cretton said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to kick off this worldwide casting search for our Team 7 and to bring the incredible universe of ‘Naruto’ to life!”
Original Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto also expressed his immense enthusiasm for the milestone, treating the production process as nothing short of a dream come true: "Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, Naruto, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie!" Kishimoto said, "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!"
Everything We Know So Far About the Upcoming Live-Action Naruto Adaptation
While specific plot lines are being kept under wraps, the film is expected to return to the very roots of the franchise, tracking ninja Naruto Uzumaki as he navigates his isolation as a kid, his training under Team 7 and Kakashi, and fights to earn the respect of his village to achieve his ultimate dream of becoming a Hokage.
Lionsgate first secured the cinematic rights to the property, which boasts 250 million manga copies sold worldwide across 60 countries, all the way back in 2014.
The project finally found its creative anchor when Cretton signed on to write and direct. Legendary industry figures Avi Arad and Ari Arad (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) are attached to produce alongside Emmy Yu and Jeremy Latcham.
With the global talent search now operating at full throttle, industry insiders speculate that the film is aiming for a 2027 production window, setting up Naruto to realistically make its live-action theatrical debut sometime in 2028. Stay tuned!
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