A studio partnership after competitive bidding
Lionsgate has partnered with Sony Pictures on its live-action adaptation of Naruto, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The arrangement followed multi-studio bidding for the international rights. Under the deal, Sony will co-finance the film and take on its international distribution.
Lionsgate has officially greenlit the project. It will continue to oversee development and production and will handle domestic distribution. Production is slated to begin in spring 2027, according to the outlet.
Cretton returns after a blockbuster
Destin Daniel Cretton is writing the script and will direct and produce. Naruto is his next feature after Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which The Hollywood Reporter described as a $2.5 billion success.
The outlet said Sony's selection looked almost pre-ordained. Cretton signed a three-year first-look producing deal with the studio in September, a sign of his relationship with his Brand New Day partner. Sony is headquartered in Japan and is also home to Crunchyroll, which the outlet called arguably the largest streaming service focused on anime.
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu are producing for Arad Productions. Cretton is producing with Jeyun Munford through his company, Hisako. Erin Westerman and James Myers are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
What the studios and director are saying
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement that "With their deep expertise in manga and anime and global distribution prowess, Sony Pictures is a perfect partner for Naruto." He said the companies share "a commitment to making this a truly global cinematic event that stays true to what millions of existing fans love." Fogelson also credited Westerman and Myers for developing the film and bringing Cretton aboard, and Helen Lee-Kim for securing Sony as the international partner.
Tom Rothman, Sony's Motion Picture Group CEO and chairman, said, "Lionsgate has done a masterful job in putting together an A-level adaptation, and we are honored to be chosen as their partner." He added that the studio had "a sweet success this summer with Destin" and was pleased to work with him again.
Cretton called himself a longtime fan of the property. "Kishimoto-sensei created a world where unlikely heroes do extraordinary things, and that's what makes it so special," he said in a statement. He said the team is committed to capturing what fans love while introducing Naruto to "a whole new generation."
The property and the casting picture
Naruto follows Naruto Uzumaki, an enthusiastic young ninja who wants to lead his village and who has the spirit of a nine-tailed demon fox inside him. Masashi Kishimoto's manga was serialized in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014. It later led to animated series that ran for years on Cartoon Network and Disney XD.
The Hollywood Reporter said the manga has sold more than 250 million copies across more than 60 countries and territories and has grown into a multibillion-dollar franchise. The anime has reached audiences in more than 145 countries and territories.
On casting, Charles Melton is the only actor attached at this stage. He is in talks to play Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja mentor to the title character and his friends. The search for the actor to play Naruto is underway.
