Live-Action ‘Naruto’ Remake Officially Begins Search for Team 7
Lionsgate has officially begun pre-production on a live-action film remake of the hugely popular anime and manga franchise Naruto, launching a global search for the actors to play its central trio, known as Team 7. The project is being developed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the Marvel director behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, working alongside Naruto co-creator Masashi Kishimoto. The announcement, made via an Instagram post, marks the biggest step forward for the adaptation since Cretton's involvement was first reported months earlier.
The casting search covers the three lead roles of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Cretton described the project as "an honour to bring [Kishimoto's] world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time", while Kishimoto called the Hollywood production "miraculous" and praised the director. The article frames the remake as well-timed, pointing to the success of Netflix's live-action One Piece, another Shueisha franchise that was praised for its faithfulness and secured a third-season renewal before its second season aired. It also notes that Kishimoto's hands-on creative involvement echoes that of One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, seen as a factor in that show's success.
- Live-action Naruto remake begins pre-production and casting.
- Global search launched for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
- Shang-Chi's Destin Daniel Cretton directs, with co-creator Kishimoto involved.
New here? Start with this
Lionsgate is developing a live-action film adaptation of Naruto, the long-running anime and manga series about a young ninja, one of the best-selling franchises of its kind. Pre-production has now formally begun with a global casting search for the three lead roles, known collectively as Team 7. The project is being led by director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for his work on Marvel films, in collaboration with Naruto's original creator, Masashi Kishimoto.
The involvement of Kishimoto himself is significant, as it mirrors the approach taken on Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece, another major manga and anime series whose creator worked closely on the production. That show was widely seen as a rare success among live-action anime adaptations, a genre that has often struggled to satisfy existing fans while reaching new audiences. This context is shaping expectations for how the Naruto film will be received.