Sony Joins Lionsgate’s Live-Action Naruto Film as Production Targets Spring 2027

Sony will help finance Lionsgate’s live-action adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga and handle its international distribution after bidding involving multiple studios, The Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday. According to the entertainment news website, the project has received the green light to start production in spring 2027.

Destin Daniel Cretton, whose credits include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will direct. He will also produce through his company Hisako with Jeyun Munford. The producer lineup additionally includes Arad Productions’ Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu, along with Jeremy Latcham.

On July 10, the Naruto franchise’s official website announced that a worldwide casting search was underway for the lead roles of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Casting for the remaining characters was set to follow later.

The Hollywood Reporter previously said Charles Melton, known for Riverdale and Beef, was in the final stages of negotiations to portray Kakashi Hatake, the ninja who serves as a mentor.

Variety reported in November 2023 that Tasha Huo, whose credits include Red Sonja and the Tomb Raider animated series, was writing the screenplay for Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto film.

The project’s earlier development dates back to July 2015, when Hollywood news website The Tracking Board reported that Lionsgate had secured the manga’s live-action film rights and was discussing the directing role with Michael Gracey of The Greatest Showman. A Naruto and Boruto stage presentation at Jump Festa in 2016 confirmed that Lionsgate and Gracey were developing the adaptation, with original creator Kishimoto participating in its production.

In a separate 2015 report, The Tracking Board named Avi Arad, whose credits include Hollywood’s Ghost in the Shell and Gamba: Gamba to Nakama-tachi, and his son Ari Arad as producers through Arad Productions. Erik Feig, Geoff Shaveitz, and Kelly O’Malley were overseeing the project.

The Hollywood Reporter subsequently reported in August 2017 that Jon and Erich Hoeber, whose credits include Red and Red 2, had joined to rewrite the screenplay.

In March 2018, Collider reported that Gracey said work on the script was continuing because he wanted to ensure it received Kishimoto’s approval. Whether any of those previously named participants other than Huo remain attached to the project is currently unclear.

Kishimoto began serializing his ninja manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 and brought it to a close in November 2014. The series has led to the Naruto and Naruto Shippūden television anime, original video anime (OVA) projects, multiple anime films, spinoff manga, the Boruto sequel manga and anime, novels, stage productions, and video games.

Kishimoto is also launching Naruto Shadow Rising, a new manga in the franchise.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter