Lionsgate has officially opened global auditions for the live-action Naruto film, with casting underway for the three members of Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Additional character casting will be announced later.

Destin Daniel Cretton, known for his work on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is directing the film. In a statement, Cretton expressed his excitement about adapting Masashi Kishimoto's world: "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."

Kishimoto, the original manga creator, shared his own enthusiasm about the project. "Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another," he wrote. "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."

The Naruto manga ran for 15 years in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014, spanning 72 volumes. Studio Pierrot's anime adaptation debuted in 2002 with 220 episodes, followed by the 500-episode sequel Naruto Shippuden. The franchise has expanded significantly since then, with the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga beginning in 2016 and its anime adaptation launching in 2017.

Beyond the film, the Naruto universe continues to grow. A new Naruto card game TCG is scheduled for 2027, and a non-verbal live-action show will run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027.