Naruto Live-Action Movie Has Reportedly Found Its Kakashi

Aug 21, 2026 - 01:15

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Naruto Live-Action Movie Has Reportedly Found Its Kakashi

Published Aug 20, 2026, 3:50 PM EDT

From X-Men rumors to Naruto casting call

Fresh off rumors that he'd be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe's upcoming X-Men reboot as Hank McCoy/Beast, Charles Melton is now in talks to star in a much different sort of role. On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Melton is in "final negotiations" to join Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton's upcoming live-action Naruto movie.

He's being circled to play Kakashi Hatake, the teacher to Team 7 ninja Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Though he starts off as an aloof and indifferent mentor who reads pervy books, Kakashi soon reveals himself to be one of the most skilled and serious ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village. He also has some of the coolest moves, like his signature Chidori attack.

Melton may best be known for his work on The CW's Riverdale series. He's broken out in recent years with roles in May December, Warfare, and Beef season 2, for which he received an Emmy nomination. Cretton's profile has also risen quickly. After directing drama films like The Glass Castle and Just Mercy, he joined the MCU in 2021 with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He's fresh off directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which seemingly breaks box office records every second, earning star Tom Holland quite the fat paycheck.

Melton is the first name attached to Cretton's live-action Naruto movie after the director announced a casting search for the Team 7 leads, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Naruto movie won't start production until around February 2027.

Lionsgate first tried getting a Naruto movie rolling about a decade ago. Cretton joined the project in 2024, and even has series creator Masashi Kishimoto's blessing. "After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naruto," Kishimoto said in a statement at the time.