Lionsgate has partnered with Sony Pictures for its high-profile feature adaptation of Naruto.
The deal, which came after competitive, multi-studio bidding, will see Sony co-finance the movie and take on international distribution of the live-action feature film that is based on the manga by Masashi Kishimoto that grew into a global entertainment brand.
Lionsgate has now officially greenlit the project, which is the follow-up feature for Destin Daniel Cretton, who his coming off the $2.5 billion success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Cretton is writing the script and will direct and produce. Production slated to begin in spring 2027, with Lionsgate continuing to oversee the film’s development and production and handle domestic distribution.
That Sony’s motion picture group, headed by Tom Rothman, would come out on top seems almost pre-ordained. Cretton in September signed a three-year first-look producing deal with the studio, signaling a strong relationship with his Brand New Day partner. And Sony, which is headquartered in Japan, is also the home of Crunchyroll, the popular and arguably largest streaming service that focuses on anime.
“With their deep expertise in manga and anime and global distribution prowess, Sony Pictures is a perfect partner for Naruto, and we’re thrilled to join forces with Tom Rothman and his team to bring this extraordinary property to audiences around the world,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson in a statement. “We share an enormous ambition for Naruto and a commitment to making this a truly global cinematic event that stays true to what millions of existing fans love and invites so many more to embrace what makes it truly special.
Fogelson added, “I’m tremendously proud of Erin Westerman and James Myers for their work developing this film and bringing Destin aboard, and of Helen Lee-Kim for securing Sony as our international partner. Ari Arad, Tetsu Fujimura, and our producing team also deserve huge thanks for their hard work and support.”
Stated Rothman, Sony’s Motion Picture Group CEO and chairman, “Lionsgate has done a masterful job in putting together an A-level adaptation, and we are honored to be chosen as their partner. Not to mention, we had a sweet success this summer with Destin and are delighted to be back in his capable hands.”
Naruto is the coming-of-age story of a young and enthusiastic ninja named Naruto Uzumaki who wants to grow up to be the leader of his ninja village but also happens to have the spirit of a nine-tailed demon fox inside him. The story was serialized in Japan’s popular Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014 and later spawned a couple of popular animated series that ran for years on Cartoon Network and Disney XD.
Naruto sits in a rarefied tier of entertainment properties that have achieved an extraordinary global reach, enduring popularity, and cultural impact. Kishimoto’s manga has sold more than 250 million copies across over 60 countries and territories, growing into a multibillion-dollar franchise. The anime adaptation has reached audiences in more than 145 countries and territories.
“As a longtime fan of Naruto, I’ve always loved that beneath the extraordinary action is a story filled with heart, humor, and humanity. Kishimoto-sensei created a world where unlikely heroes do extraordinary things, and that’s what makes it so special,” said Cretton in a statement. “Lionsgate has been an incredible partner, and I’m thrilled to reunite with the fantastic team at Sony. Together, we’re committed to capturing everything fans love about Naruto while introducing it to a whole new generation.”
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu are producing for Arad Productions with Jeremy Latcham. Cretton is producing alongside Jeyun Munford through his company, Hisako.
Charles Melton is the only actor on board to star and is said to be playing Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja mentor figure to the main character and his friends. The search for the actor to inhabit Naruto is currently underway.
Erin Westerman and James Myers are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.