Sony and Lionsgate are teaming up to bring Naruto to cinemas — and the man at the helm is Destin Daniel Cretton, fresh off a $2.5 billion global smash with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The live-action adaptation has officially been greenlit, with production set to begin in spring 2027. Cretton will write, direct, and produce, marking his next major move after the Marvel Studios hit that redefined domestic box office records.
He’s not doing it alone: Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu are producing through Arad Productions, while Jeyun Munford joins as producer under Cretton’s own banner, Hisako. Masashi Kishimoto, the manga’s creator, is said to be closely involved, a nod to the franchise’s legacy and fan expectations. Only one actor is confirmed so far: Charles Melton, locked in to play Kakashi Hatake, the stoic mentor whose presence looms large over Naruto’s journey.
The search for the lead, Naruto Uzumaki, is underway. Lionsgate will handle domestic distribution and oversee development, while Sony takes charge of international rollout. That’s no surprise: Sony owns Crunchyroll, and its motion picture group, led by Tom Rothman, has a deep-rooted connection to anime. Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, called the partnership ‘perfect’ given Sony’s expertise in manga and global reach.
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