Charles Melton is in early talks to take on the role of Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate’s live-action adaptation of Naruto, according to sources familiar with the project. The actor, best known for his breakout performance in May December, would join the film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who is also co-writing the screenplay.
The news, first reported by a trade outlet, marks the latest major casting move for a production that has been slowly assembling its core ensemble. Melton’s potential casting as the iconic Copy Ninja - a masked, laid-back mentor to the titular hero - would be a significant addition to a movie that has faced years of development hurdles and high fan expectations.
While plot details for the live-action version remain tightly under wraps, Lionsgate confirmed last year that Cretton would helm the project after his success with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The studio has not yet announced who will play Naruto Uzumaki, the series’ bright-eyed protagonist, leaving the casting of Kakashi as one of the first major reveals.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Naruto began as a manga by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999 and grew into a global multimedia phenomenon. The story follows a young ninja ostracized by his village for harboring a nine-tailed fox demon inside him, as he dreams of becoming the village leader, or Hokage, to earn respect and recognition. The original manga concluded in 2014, but its sequel series, Boruto, continues to explore the next generation of shinobi.
The animated film that shares the same name - the one Melton’s movie is not directly based on - offers a glimpse of the world’s tone. Directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi and released in December 2014, that 114-minute feature picks up two years after the Fourth Great Ninja War. It centers on a looming catastrophe: the moon created long ago by Hagoromo Otsutsuki to seal the Gedo Statue begins falling toward Earth. As panic spreads, Toneri Otsutsuki, a direct descendant of Kaguya, attempts to kidnap Hinata Hyuga, only to abduct her younger sister Hanabi instead. Naruto and his allies race to rescue her and face a battle that could decide the fate of everything.
That film, which earned a TMDb rating of 7.5/10, featured a voice cast including Junko Takeuchi as Naruto, Nana Mizuki as Hinata, and Kazuhiko Inoue as Kakashi Hatake. Whether the live-action movie will closely adapt that specific storyline is unclear, but the property’s core themes of perseverance, found family, and redemption are expected to carry over.
Melton’s potential casting brings a distinct energy to the role. At 35, he has the age range to play Kakashi as a battle-worn veteran with decades of experience. His acting resume includes a mix of independent dramas and mainstream projects, including The Flash and the Netflix series The Society, but it was his work in May December - where he played a man grappling with the consequences of a childhood relationship - that earned him critical acclaim and widespread industry attention. That performance showed a capacity for quiet intensity and wounded warmth, traits that map well onto Kakashi’s layered personality.
Kakashi is one of Naruto’s most beloved characters. Known for his silver hair, perpetually covered face, and a penchant for reading adult novels in public, he is also a former prodigy who lost close friends and carries deep emotional scars. His combat style, which includes copying enemy techniques with his Sharingan eye, made him a fan favorite. The character’s mentor relationship with Naruto and his eventual rise to Hokage represent some of the franchise’s most resonant arcs.
Lionsgate has been cautious about revealing too much too soon, likely learning from the backlash to other anime-to-live-action adaptations. The studio has not set a release date, but production is expected to begin once the cast is finalized. Cretton’s involvement has been seen as a positive sign among fans, given his track record of balancing spectacle with character intimacy.
Melton’s camp has not commented publicly, and no deal is done yet, as negotiations could still fall through. But if the reports hold, the actor will join a project that aims to translate Naruto’s sprawling ninja world into a live-action format that satisfies both longtime devotees and newcomers. With the casting of Kakashi, a crucial piece of the puzzle may now be in place.
The film’s potential success hinges on more than just casting, of course. The action choreography, visual effects for jutsu techniques, and faithful adaptation of the source material’s emotional beats will all play a role. For now, fans are left to speculate on who will fill the sandals of Naruto and Sasuke, while Melton’s reported involvement provides some concrete anchor in the swirling rumors.
As the project moves forward, expect more announcements to trickle out slowly. For a franchise with this much history, every choice carries weight. Melton’s name is now at the center of that conversation, and if the deal closes, the role could define the next stage of his career.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
