Naruto is moving closer to its Hollywood debut, with Sony Pictures joining Lionsgate to bring the popular manga franchise to live-action cinemas. Sony will co-finance the film and handle its international release, while Lionsgate will lead production and distribute it in the United States. The project has been greenlit, with production expected to begin in spring 2027. Destin Daniel Cretton, the filmmaker behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is writing, directing and producing the adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s manga. After years of development, the project is now moving towards production with two major studios involved.
The arrangement gives the live-action adaptation an international distribution structure, with Sony responsible for markets outside the United States and Lionsgate handling the domestic release. Sony’s involvement also includes co-financing the film, while Lionsgate remains responsible for its production. The partnership brings together the studios as the project moves from development towards its planned production start.
One of the most significant aspects of the project is the creative vision behind it. Cretton’s work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gives him experience with martial-arts action, but Naruto requires more than elaborate fight sequences. Much of the franchise’s appeal comes from the emotions behind its conflicts, including friendships, rivalries, personal setbacks and the determination of its young characters. The adaptation will need to translate these elements into live action while preserving the qualities that have connected the manga with readers across generations.
Cretton has described himself as a longtime fan of the franchise and has highlighted the heart, humour and humanity beneath its action as elements that make the story special. That approach will be important as the film attempts to balance its large-scale ninja battles with the relationships and character development that form the foundation of Kishimoto’s story. The challenge will be to create a cinematic version of the franchise’s colourful world without reducing its appeal to visual spectacle alone.
The producing team includes Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Tetsu Fujimura, Destin Daniel Cretton and Jeyun Munford. Erin Westerman and James Myers are overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Their involvement brings together the production team responsible for developing the live-action adaptation, with Cretton taking on writing, directing and producing duties.
Masashi Kishimoto’s connection to the project is particularly important for a franchise with such an established identity. Cretton met the creator in Tokyo before taking on the film, and Kishimoto welcomed his vision and openness to collaboration. In July 2026, when the worldwide search for the members of Team 7 was announced, Kishimoto said he was eager to meet the actors who would bring his characters to life. His involvement provides a direct connection between the adaptation and the creator whose work established the characters, setting and mythology.
For audiences unfamiliar with the source material, Naruto follows Naruto Uzumaki, a determined young ninja who dreams of becoming Hokage, the leader of his village. Many people avoid him because a powerful Nine-Tailed Fox spirit is sealed inside him. Rather than accepting the rejection, Naruto works to prove himself and earn the respect of those around him. His journey is shaped by his friendships and rivalries, particularly with fellow young ninjas Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, who become central to his development.
The manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014 and has printed more than 250 million copies across over 60 countries and territories. Its international reach makes the live-action adaptation a significant undertaking for the studios. The film will need to introduce the story and its mythology to viewers who may be encountering the franchise for the first time, while also meeting the expectations of readers who have followed the characters and their journeys for years.
Casting is another important stage in the film’s development. In July 2026, Lionsgate and Cretton launched a worldwide search for actors to play Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, the three young ninjas who form Team 7. Casting for other characters is expected to follow. The search represents an important step in translating the manga’s central relationships to the screen, particularly because the three characters’ personalities and evolving connections are central to the story.
At New York Comic Con in October, Cretton told fans that the team was working hard and approaching the characters and their relationships with care. No full cast has been announced, and the film does not yet have a confirmed release date. The casting process will be closely watched by fans, given the importance of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura to the franchise and the expectations surrounding their live-action portrayals.
The Sony-Lionsgate partnership marks a significant development for the adaptation as it moves towards production. A franchise with more than 250 million manga copies in print is receiving a major Hollywood push, but the scale of its international following also brings considerable expectations. The film must establish a version of Naruto’s world that works as a live-action cinematic experience, while retaining the character relationships, humour and emotional themes that have defined the original story.
With Kishimoto connected to the project and Cretton leading the creative work, the adaptation is moving closer to bringing the Hidden Leaf Village to cinemas. Production is expected to begin in spring 2027, although the studios have yet to announce a release date or complete cast. The next major developments will be the casting announcements and further details about how the filmmakers intend to translate the manga’s expansive world for the big screen.