The live-action adaptation of the popular anime series Naruto may finally be moving forward, at least according to popular industry insider Daniel Richtman, who goes by the username DanielRPK on X. Apparently, the movie is aiming to start production in late 2026, a piece of news that has quickly gained traction within the fan communities and news outlets as of February 2026.
Although Lionsgate has not made an official announcement about the movie, it is worth noting that the timeframe fits in well with director Destin Daniel Cretton’s increasingly hectic schedule. Moreover, it is worth noting that the director has already gotten the official thumbs up from the creator of the popular series, Masashi Kishimoto, which is a significant factor in alleviating the fears of fans who are apprehensive about live-action adaptations of their favorite anime series. As of now, the movie is under the banner of Lionsgate and Arad Productions, but if production is slated for the end of 2026, it is highly likely that the movie will be released in 2028.
New insider leak suggests long-awaited live-action
Cretton’s availability is the largest factor at play here. The filmmaker is currently hard at work on the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which completed filming back in December 2025 and is set for a July 31st, 2026, release. The film is being touted as a grittier take on the Spider-Verse and Peter Parker, and it is clear that Marvel is prioritizing this one above all others. Cretton is also coming off his work as the executive producer and director of the Disney+ series Wonder Man, which premiered in full back in January of 2026. Shang-Chi 2 is currently in development, although Marvel is allegedly putting that film off for the time being in favor of the Spider-Man film.
There has been no casting announced for the film, so fans have taken it upon themselves to speculate. Online, fans have floated the likes of Oakes Fegley or Izaac Wang for the role of Naruto Uzumaki, while Mackenyu and Timothée Chalamet have both become fan favorites for the role of Sasuke Uchiha. For the role of Kakashi Hatake, Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada have become the top contenders for the role.
One important note is that many of the “first trailers” that fans have seen online have not actually been related to the film and have instead been created by AI. For the time being, the start date of 2026 is unofficial, although for the first time in years, the live-action Naruto film is closer than ever.
