Live-action “Naruto”: Sony co-finances and distributes internationally, shooting in spring 2027
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- The live-action “Naruto” is produced by Lionsgate, with Sony reported to co-finance it and handle international distribution.
- The director is Destin Daniel Cretton. Shooting is due to start in spring 2027, and no release date has been announced.
- A casting call for the lead roles opened in July 2026 and talks for Kakashi were reported in August, but no deal is confirmed.
- The project has been going on since 2015.
In this article
What is reported
According to Anime News Network (3 November), the Hollywood Reporter (Borys Kit) says that Lionsgate is producing the live-action “Naruto” film, with Sony as co-financier and international distributor after bidding among several studios; the article names no distributor for the US market. The director is Destin Daniel Cretton. The producers include Cretton and Jeyun Munford (through Hisako) and Avi Arad. Shooting is due to begin in spring 2027; no release date has been announced.
Casting and unverified points
On 10 July 2026, the franchise’s official site announced a worldwide search for actors to play Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, with other roles to be cast later. In August, the Hollywood Reporter wrote that Charles Melton was in “final negotiations” to play Kakashi, though the article does not confirm a signing. It is also unclear whether Tasha Huo is still the only screenwriter, or whether the lead roles have been cast.
A long road
According to the article, Lionsgate acquired the rights in July 2015, with Michael Gracey in talks to direct. In 2016, Jump Festa confirmed the involvement of Lionsgate and Masashi Kishimoto. In August 2017, rewrites of the script were reported; in March 2018, Gracey said the script was awaiting Kishimoto’s approval. In November 2023, Tasha Huo was named as screenwriter, then Cretton was chosen as director in February 2024. The manga ran in “Weekly Shonen Jump” from 1999 and ended in November 2014; Kishimoto is launching a new manga, “Naruto Shadow Rising”.
Learn the grammar
French grammar
Learn sentence patterns and usage from the article’s own sentences.
01The passive in the passé composé
a / ont été + past participle
Le manga a été publié dans le « Weekly Shonen Jump » à partir de 1999 et s’est terminé en novembre 2014 ; Kishimoto lance un nouveau manga, « Naruto Shadow Rising ».Key pointsThe thing that received the action is the subject, as in “was adopted” or “was confirmed”. A / ont is avoir and été is the past participle of être. The last past participle changes in gender and number with the subject: adopté, adoptée, adoptés, adoptées.
02Negation and its scope
ne / n’ … pas · ne … plus
Selon Anime News Network (3 novembre), le Hollywood Reporter (Borys Kit) indique que Lionsgate produit le film live-action « Naruto », avec Sony comme cofinanceur et distributeur international à l’issue d’une mise en concurrence entre plusieurs studios ; l’article ne nomme pas de distributeur pour le marché américain.Key pointsNormally ne and pas wrap the verb. Before a vowel, ne becomes n’. Check which part of the sentence the negation covers. Ne … plus means “no longer”.
03Citing a source with selon
selon + noun / organisation
Selon l’article, Lionsgate a acquis les droits en juillet 2015, avec Michael Gracey en discussion pour réaliser.Key pointsSelon means “according to”. Put a person or organisation after it as the source. It separates facts the writer checked directly from what another body or report said. Citing a source does not turn a forecast into an accomplished fact.
04Purpose with pour
pour + infinitive
Selon l’article, Lionsgate a acquis les droits en juillet 2015, avec Michael Gracey en discussion pour réaliser.Key pointsThis is the purpose, “in order to…”. Put the base form of a verb after pour. The purpose stated here is separate from whether the effect was actually achieved.
05The passé composé for events
present of avoir + past participle
Le 10 juillet 2026, le site officiel de la franchise a annoncé une recherche mondiale de comédiens pour Naruto, Sasuke et Sakura, les autres rôles devant être distribués plus tard.Key pointsIt reports past events, as in “announced” or “explained”. A / ont is the auxiliary avoir and the next word is the past participle. The passé composé alone does not tell you the date of the event.
06The present of être
est / sont + complement
Le réalisateur est Destin Daniel Cretton.Key pointsEst is third-person singular and sont third-person plural of être. They express “is / are” — a state or description. If a past participle follows, it is a different structure such as the passive, so check the words that follow.
Japanese grammar
Understand the structure and usage from the text.
01Citing a source: によると
noun + によると
Anime News Network（11月3日）によると、ハリウッド・リポーター（記者はボリス・キット）が、実写映画『NARUTO』について報じました。Key pointsAs in “LCPによると”, it shows where the information comes from. What that source reported follows. It is used differently from “私にとって”, which gives one’s own opinion.
02Indicating the subject: について
noun + について
Anime News Network（11月3日）によると、ハリウッド・リポーター（記者はボリス・キット）が、実写映画『NARUTO』について報じました。Key pointsAs in “予算について”, it shows the topic to be talked about or explained. In the form “〜についての報道”, の is added so that the group qualifies the following noun.
03Giving examples with など
noun / expression + など
製作は、クレットンとジェユン・マンフォードが率いる会社Hisakoなどが担当し、アヴィ・アラッドらも名を連ねています。Key points“暴言など” gives “abusive language” as one example. It is not necessarily a closed list of only the things named. It also helps when reading the scope of a news story.
04The polite past ました
verb stem (連用形) + ました
ハリウッド・リポーターの報道を、Anime News Networkが11月3日に伝えました。Key pointsIn “発表しました”, ました makes a verb polite past. The negative is “ませんでした”. Read the actual date together with the date and time in the text.
05Quoting with と: content and report
plain-form sentence + と + verbe de parole (報じる, 説明する…)
2026年7月10日に、公式サイトが、ナルト、サスケ、サクラの役を世界規模で募ると発表しました。Key pointsと takes the content that is reported or explained. In “改定する方針だと報じました”, “改定する方針だ” is what the report said. Separating the content from who said it and how makes long sentences easier to read.
06Treating a clause like a noun with こと
plain-form sentence + こと + particle
2016年のジャンプフェスタで、ライオンズゲートが製作に関わり、岸本斉史さんも関与することが示されました。Key points“〜すること” treats an action or content like a noun. The particle after it (が・を・は…) shows its role in the sentence. “ことができる” is a fixed combination meaning “can”.