Charles Melton Negotiates to Play Kakashi in Naruto

Kakashi fans, lean in: sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Charles Melton is in late-stage talks to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto film.

It’s a bold move. Melton—fresh off an Emmy nomination for his work on Netflix’s Beef—would step into one of the franchise’s most layered roles: an elite, laconic mentor with one eye always watching and a past that colors every lesson he gives. Casting a familiar face in a character this beloved is a high-wire act. Get it right and you win over longtime manga readers and new viewers alike; miss the mark and the backlash will be loud.

Destin Daniel Cretton is attached to direct. The filmmaker, already known for Shang-Chi and riding the box-office wave of his new Spider-Man title, has become a hot commodity in blockbuster circles. According to insiders, Naruto is penciled to enter production around February 2027—assuming the pieces fall into place.

For those who need a refresher: Naruto began as Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, following the coming-of-age saga of Naruto Uzumaki, a spirited young ninja who harbors the sealed spirit of a nine-tailed fox. Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014, the story spawned several hugely popular anime series that defined a generation on channels like Cartoon Network and Disney XD.

Casting the title role remains an open hunt. The studio is reportedly searching for a young actor who can carry Naruto’s boundless energy and emotional core. Melton’s name, by contrast, is linked to Kakashi—a role that requires a mix of gravitas, dry wit, and physical presence.

Lionsgate has declined to comment so far. That silence is standard at this stage, but it also lets speculation do the heavy lifting: will the adaptation respect the manga’s tone? Will it aim for a faithful translation or a reinvention for global cinema audiences?

Melton’s résumé shows why he’s on the shortlist. He first broke out as Reggie in Riverdale, then moved toward more acclaimed fare—Todd Haynes’ May December among them—sharing screens with names like Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. Other credits in the source material include projects by Alex Garland and Nicolas Winding Refn.

Off-screen, Melton is a lifelong anime and manga fan. He’s also trained in martial arts, holding a dan-level black belt in taekwondo and reportedly competed in junior-level international events in Seoul—credentials that could help ground the physical demands of a ninja role in authenticity rather than stunt doubles alone.

This is still casting news in motion. Talks can collapse as easily as they intensify. But if Melton signs on, Kakashi’s cool detachment and hidden wounds might arrive on screen with a surprising new edge—one that could shape the tone for the entire franchise’s live-action future.