Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto movie is moving further into its casting process, with Charles Melton reportedly in talks to play Kakashi Hatake, one of the story’s most important characters. Kakashi serves as the mentor of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, making his potential casting an important development as Lionsgate searches for the young actors who will play the members of Team 7.
According to industry reports, Melton is in close talks to take on the role. If finalized, the casting would mark one of the first major developments involving an established actor as Lionsgate continues building the film’s central ensemble.
Melton first gained wide recognition for playing Reggie Mantle in the television series Riverdale. He later received significant critical attention for his performance as Joe Yoo in Todd Haynes’ May December, in which he starred opposite Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. The performance earned him several major award nominations and helped establish him as an actor taking on increasingly prominent film roles beyond television.
Kakashi Hatake is one of the best-known characters in Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto. Introduced as the leader and teacher of Team 7, Kakashi guides Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno during their early years as ninjas. He is known for his calm personality, combat abilities and mysterious past, while his relationship with the three young characters becomes an important part of the larger story.
That makes the role particularly significant for the live-action adaptation. Kakashi is not simply an experienced ninja within the story; he is the character who introduces Team 7 to many of the challenges they will face. His interactions with Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura also help establish the relationships at the centre of the story.
For Melton, the role would represent another major step in a film career that has increasingly moved beyond television. His work in May December brought him wider critical recognition, while his earlier television success established him with a broad audience. If the deal is completed, Naruto would give him an opportunity to take on a major role in a large-scale franchise adaptation.
The reported casting comes as Lionsgate and director Destin Daniel Cretton continue preparing the live-action adaptation. Cretton, whose previous work includes Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been attached to direct the film. The project has been in development for several years, but the recent casting activity indicates that it is moving toward a more defined production stage.
Lionsgate has also launched a worldwide casting search for the actors who will play Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. The studio is looking for young performers to lead the adaptation as the three members of Team 7, with casting for additional characters expected to follow. The search makes Melton’s reported involvement particularly notable because Kakashi would be directly connected to the film’s three central young characters.
Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, has also been involved in the development of the Hollywood adaptation. His involvement remains an important part of the project as Lionsgate attempts to bring one of the most recognizable Japanese manga and anime properties to a live-action audience. The franchise has built a substantial global following across manga, anime, films and other formats.
The casting process will be particularly important for the adaptation because the film needs to introduce the characters to audiences unfamiliar with the original material while retaining the relationships that made Naruto successful. The eventual casting of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura will therefore be central to the film, while Kakashi’s potential presence provides an established figure around whom the young team can be developed.
For now, Melton’s involvement remains at the negotiation stage, and Lionsgate has yet to officially announce him as Kakashi. If the deal is finalized, his casting would give the Naruto movie one of its first major established names and provide an important indication of the direction of the film’s ensemble. The next major developments are expected to come through official casting announcements as Lionsgate continues assembling the live-action adaptation.
Read More:
