Charles Melton in Talks to Play Kakashi in Live-Action Naruto Movie
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Charles Melton is in final talks to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate's upcoming live-action Naruto movie directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
The live action adaptation of Naruto is finally gathering serious momentum. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, actor Charles Melton is currently in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake in the upcoming Lionsgate film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Melton has been turning heads with acclaimed performances in May December and Beef, and stepping into the role of the masked mentor to Team 7 marks a major casting milestone for the project.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton has been steering the ship since 2024, bringing serious blockbuster credibility following his work on Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Series creator Masashi Kishimoto previously gave Cretton his full backing, noting that the director's strength in crafting grounded human drama makes him the right fit for the Hidden Leaf Village. Casting is also actively underway for the younger lead roles of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
While production is not slated to begin until early 2027, the choice of Melton as Kakashi shows that the studio is aiming for a mix of rising dramatic talent and high profile action chops. For fans who have watched Hollywood attempt to crack anime adaptations for years, seeing a major project secure respected talent brings some cautious optimism to the timeline. We will have to wait and see who ultimately fills out the rest of the iconic roster before filming gets underway.
Tags: Anime, Movies, Entertainment, Casting
Original article: Polygon