Charles Melton in Final Talks to Play Kakashi in Destin Daniel Cretton’s ‘Naruto’

Live-action adaptations of manga have faced challenges in Hollywood, but few franchises evoke as much anticipation and concern as ‘Naruto.’ Since acquiring the rights to Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic ninja saga in 2015, Lionsgate has seen the project linger in development for years, finally securing the right creative team to bring it to life.

The team came together when Destin Daniel Cretton, known for directing Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,’ signed on to write and direct the adaptation. Cretton initiated casting last month, launching a “worldwide casting search” aimed at finding actors for Team 7, the central group of young ninjas in the story.

It seems that the search has found its first significant piece. Charles Melton is in final discussions to join Cretton’s live-action ‘Naruto’ film, with sources suggesting that the ‘Beef’ actor is being considered for the role of Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja mentor who guides the young protagonist and his companions.

Kakashi is one of the most cherished characters in Kishimoto’s extensive manga, which ran from 1999 to 2014 and sold over 250 million copies globally, making it one of the most successful media franchises ever. Securing an actor of Melton’s talent for such a crucial supporting role indicates how seriously Lionsgate and Cretton are approaching this adaptation after years of setbacks.

Melton’s career has been rapidly ascending in recent years. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his performance in ‘Beef’ Season 2 alongside Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Cailee Spaeny, following acclaimed roles in Todd Haynes’ ‘May December’ and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare.’

His athletic background may also benefit him in a role as demanding as Kakashi. Melton holds a second-degree black belt in taekwondo and competed in the Junior Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, providing him with a martial arts foundation that could be advantageous for a character centered around intricate, high-stakes combat.

While Melton’s talks are progressing, the broader casting search for Team 7 continues, with Lionsgate still seeking actors to portray Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Currently, Melton is the only actor publicly linked to the project, but his potential involvement hints at more casting announcements likely as production approaches.

Cretton’s timing for this adaptation coincides with the remarkable success of his latest project. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ which he directed, has already surpassed $2 billion at the global box office, marking it as one of the highest-grossing films ever and giving Cretton significant momentum heading into this new venture.

Sources indicate that ‘Naruto’ is targeting a production start around February 2027, allowing several more months for the casting search to finalize its remaining leads. Kishimoto has expressed genuine enthusiasm about seeing his work adapted to live-action, previously describing the experience as one “miracle” after another and calling it “truly, truly” surreal to have Cretton as director.

For a franchise that has endured over a decade of stalled attempts since Lionsgate first acquired the rights, Melton’s potential casting represents one of the clearest indicators that this adaptation is finally progressing. Given the intense scrutiny that anime and manga adaptations often face from dedicated fanbases, all eyes will be on how the rest of Team 7 comes together in the coming months.

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