Sony Pictures and Lionsgate are joining forces to bring one of the world's most beloved manga properties to the big screen. The two studios have struck a partnership to co-finance and co-distribute "Naruto," a live-action adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's long-running manga, with Destin Daniel Cretton directing. The deal, confirmed Tuesday, marks a significant show of force behind a project that has been gestating in Hollywood for years.
Word of the partnership arrives as the film's cast continues to take shape. Charles Melton, whose recent credits have positioned him as one of the more sought-after young actors in the industry, is set to play Kakashi Hatake, the masked, silver-haired ninja mentor who has become a fan favorite since the manga's debut. Further casting has not been announced.
"Naruto" follows an outcast in a village of ninjas who sets out to become the leader and strongest warrior of his home. The story, which blends action with adventure, centers on a protagonist shunned by his community who chases recognition against steep odds. Kishimoto's original manga, launched in 1999, grew into a global phenomenon and spawned a sprawling anime franchise, making it one of the most recognizable titles in Japanese pop culture.
The project is an English-language Hollywood production, and Cretton's involvement signals the studios' ambition to treat the adaptation as a major tentpole rather than a niche offering. Cretton, who has built a reputation for character-driven filmmaking before stepping into large-scale franchise work, will direct from a screenplay the studios have not yet detailed. Representatives for Sony and Lionsgate declined to comment beyond confirming the partnership.
A Studio Marriage With Strategic Weight
For Sony, the arrangement extends a busy slate of franchise-minded projects, while Lionsgate gains a stake in a property with a built-in international audience. Co-financing deals of this kind have become increasingly common as studios look to share the rising costs of big-budget productions while hedging risk on untested intellectual property. Splitting the load also allows both companies to lean on their respective distribution muscle in different territories, though the precise split of responsibilities has not been made public.
The combination is notable because the two studios have not frequently partnered at this scale. Neither company has announced a release date for the film, and the runtime remains unknown. Production timelines have likewise not been disclosed, leaving open the question of when cameras might roll and how soon audiences could see the result.
Built-In Fandom, High Stakes
The commercial logic behind the partnership is easy to see. "Naruto" arrives with a ready-made global fanbase, one that spans manga readers, anime viewers, and video game players across multiple continents. Live-action adaptations of anime and manga have a checkered track record in Hollywood, however, and the property's passionate following means every casting decision and creative choice will be scrutinized closely. The choice of Melton as Kakashi, one of the story's most iconic figures, is already likely to draw attention from longtime fans.
Cretton's filmography suggests he is comfortable balancing intimate character work with larger spectacle, a combination the material demands. The story of an ostracized youth fighting for acceptance at the top of a ninja hierarchy hinges on emotional stakes as much as action set pieces, and how the film handles that balance could determine whether it resonates beyond the core audience.
The project's TMDb rating currently sits at 0 out of 10, reflecting the fact that no footage has been publicly screened and the film remains in early development. That will change as marketing ramps up, but for now the production exists largely as a promise: a director with momentum, a rising star in a key role, and two studios betting that a story about an underdog ninja can carry a Hollywood franchise.
Sony and Lionsgate have not indicated when additional casting or a release window might be announced. For a property this closely watched, every update is likely to travel fast.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter