Lead: The live-action Naruto movie now has Sony Pictures on board as co-financier and international distributor, with Lionsgate’s greenlit adaptation set to start production in spring 2027.
What happened
The Hollywood Reporter reported on Tuesday, November 3, that Sony is co-financing Lionsgate’s live-action adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto and will handle its international release after bidding from several studios. Under the arrangement, Lionsgate keeps production and domestic distribution, while Sony Pictures takes distribution outside North America. Anime News Network and IGN both picked up the report, and IGN cites a Lionsgate statement calling Sony a strong fit because of its experience with anime and manga. Sony owns Crunchyroll, so that reasoning is not hard to follow.
Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is directing and also producing through his company Hisako alongside Jeyun Munford. Arad Productions’ Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu are listed as producers, along with Jeremy Latcham. In a statement carried by IGN, Cretton said “Kishimoto-sensei created a world where unlikely heroes do extraordinary things.”
The film has been greenlit to begin shooting in spring 2027. No release date has been announced. Back on July 10, the official Naruto website opened a global casting search for the three leads: Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
Why the live-action Naruto movie matters
This project has been stuck in development for over a decade. Lionsgate secured the rights back in 2015, a different director was attached for years, and several rounds of script work came and went without cameras rolling. A production start date and a second major studio putting in money is the clearest sign yet that the film is actually happening.
Sony’s involvement is about reach as much as money. Naruto is one of the most recognized manga worldwide, and a large share of its audience lives outside the US. Pairing Lionsgate’s domestic release with Sony’s international network, plus Crunchyroll’s anime fanbase under the same corporate roof, gives the film a much wider launch pad than Lionsgate could build alone.
It also raises the stakes. Hollywood’s record with anime adaptations is patchy at best, and fans will judge this one on two things: casting the teenage leads convincingly and making ninjutsu look like more than generic action. With a director coming off a Marvel blockbuster, expectations will be high from day one.
What we know vs what is rumored
- Confirmed: Lionsgate is producing and handling domestic distribution; Sony is reported to co-finance and handle international distribution.
- Confirmed: Destin Daniel Cretton is directing and producing; production is set to begin in spring 2027.
- Confirmed: A global casting search for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura opened on July 10.
- Unconfirmed: Charles Melton was previously reported to be “in final negotiations” to play Kakashi Hatake; no official casting has been announced.
- Unconfirmed: Tasha Huo was reported in 2023 to be writing the script; whether she or earlier writers remain attached is unclear.
- Unconfirmed: No release date or release window has been given.
What happens next
With cameras set to roll in spring 2027, casting news for the three leads, and possibly Kakashi, should come over the next few months. A release date is unlikely until production is well underway. Meanwhile, Kishimoto is continuing the franchise on the page with his new manga Naruto Shadow Rising, so the brand will stay busy while the film comes together.
Draw this character: Get ready for the casting announcements with our guides on how to draw Naruto Uzumaki, how to draw Sasuke Uchiha’s face and how to draw Sakura Haruno.
Sources: Anime News Network — Hollywood Reporter: Sony to Co-Finance, Distribute Live-Action Naruto Film, Begin Production in Spring 2027; IGN — Sony and Lionsgate Team up For Naruto Movie, Filming to Begin in Spring 2027