The upcoming live-action NARUTO film has officially launched a worldwide casting search for its lead roles as production enters the next stage of pre-production.
Studio Lionsgate announced that auditions are now open globally for Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, the three members of Team 7. Casting for additional characters will be announced at a later date.
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who is also attached to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In a message shared alongside the announcement, Cretton said:
“Kishimoto-sensei’s stories have inspired generations of fans around the world, and it’s an honor to bring his world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time. I’m thrilled to kick off this worldwide casting search for our Team 7 and to bring the incredible universe of NARUTO to life!”
Original creator Masashi Kishimoto also commented:
“Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, NARUTO, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie! And an even greater miracle is that the film will be directed by the one and only Destin Daniel Cretton. I still cannot believe it!
If so many miracles have already come together, then let us hope for even more. I am eagerly looking forward to the miraculous encounters that will bring us extraordinary and passionate actors! I cannot wait to meet my characters in the film!”
Naruto is a manga written by Masashi Kishimoto. It began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in September 1999 and ran for 15 years until November 2014, ending with a total of 72 volumes. Studio Pierrot animated the anime adaptation, which premiered in October 2002 and ran for 220 episodes. The anime was followed by a sequel titled Naruto Shippuden, which ran for 500 episodes.
There is also the sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, originally written by Ukyo Kodachi. Masashi Kishimoto later took over the story, which has illustrations by Mikio Ikimoto. The manga started in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2016 but moved to V Jump in 2019.
Part 2 of the manga titled Boruto: Two Blue Vortex began in August 2023. The Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime adaptation began broadcasting in April 2017, while the anime went on a break in March 2023. A 4-episode special was originally scheduled to broadcast for 4 consecutive weeks from September 3, 2023, but was delayed to ‘improve quality.’
A new NARUTO Card Game TCG was also recently announced for 2027, as well as a non-verbal live-action show set to run at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theater from February until June 2027.
Source: NARUTO Official Website
ⒸMasashi Kishimoto, Scott/SHUEISHA/Ninja Show “NARUTO” Production Committee 2027
Participate In Discussions