Charles Melton is reportedly in talks to portray Kakashi Hatake in the upcoming live-action Naruto movie.

Charles Melton in Talks to Play Kakashi in Live-Action Naruto

Charles Melton is in final talks to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Charles Melton Could Be the Next Kakashi Hatake

August 22, 2026 – Charles Melton is in close talks to portray Kakashi Hatake in the upcoming live-action Naruto movie, adding a major new name to the long-developing adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s manga. The potential casting was reported this week as the film’s search for its principal cast continues.

The project is being developed by Lionsgate, with Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct. Melton’s negotiations are not yet a completed deal, so his casting should still be described as being in talks rather than officially confirmed.

If finalized, the role would put Melton in one of the franchise’s most recognizable supporting parts. Kakashi is the experienced shinobi who becomes the leader and instructor of Team 7, the young group at the center of the early Naruto story.

Credit: Katie Flores/Variety

Kakashi Is One of Naruto’s Most Important Characters

Kakashi Hatake is a highly skilled ninja known for his calm personality, strategic thinking and distinctive appearance. He is introduced as the mentor of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, helping the three young ninjas develop their abilities while teaching them the importance of teamwork.

The character is also known as the “Copy Ninja” because of his ability to reproduce techniques using the Sharingan, a powerful visual ability. His reputation as an elite shinobi makes him one of the strongest and most experienced characters in the franchise.

That importance could make Melton’s potential casting especially significant for longtime fans. Kakashi is not simply a supporting figure; he is a major part of the emotional and action-driven foundation of the original story.

Destin Daniel Cretton Is Directing the Movie

Cretton is leading the live-action adaptation as both its director and a key creative figure. He is best known for films including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and is currently associated with large-scale studio projects, giving him experience with action-heavy material and established franchises.

His involvement has helped move the Naruto movie toward a more concrete stage after years of development. The filmmaker is expected to balance the source material’s characters and mythology with the demands of a feature-length live-action adaptation.

Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, is also involved with the film, which gives the project a direct connection to the original manga.

The Live-Action Film Has Been Years in Development

A Hollywood Naruto adaptation has been discussed for years, making the current casting process an important step for the long-awaited project. The movie has gone through different stages of development before arriving at its current team.

Recent casting activity has focused on finding actors for the younger central characters, with a global search launched for live-action versions of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. That search indicates the movie is assembling its main cast rather than simply relying on established names.

Melton’s reported negotiations now add one of the franchise’s major adult characters to the picture. However, the rest of the principal cast remains largely unconfirmed.

Charles Melton Has Been Building Momentum

The potential Naruto role comes during an increasingly prominent period in Melton’s career. He first became widely recognized for playing Reggie Mantle on Riverdale, but his work has expanded considerably beyond that series.

His performance in Todd Haynes’ May December received strong critical attention, helping establish him as a more dramatic screen presence. More recently, he appeared in the second season of Beef, earning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor.

A franchise role as Kakashi would give Melton another opportunity to move between prestige projects and large-scale commercial filmmaking. It would also place him at the center of a property with an enormous international fan base.

The Naruto Story Begins With a Young Ninja’s Dream

The original Naruto story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who wants to become the leader and protector of his village. His path is complicated by the powerful creature sealed within him and by the prejudice he faces from people around him.

The story combines coming-of-age themes with martial arts, supernatural abilities and long-running conflicts between ninja clans and villages. Kakashi becomes important early in that journey because he is responsible for training Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura as Team 7.

A theatrical adaptation is likely to focus on the opening stages of that larger mythology, although the exact plot of the movie has not been publicly detailed.

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Casting Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura Remains a Major Question

While Melton is reportedly in talks for Kakashi, the actors who will play the three young leads have not been announced. That leaves a substantial part of the film’s central cast still to be determined.

The search for those roles began publicly in July, with casting efforts described as global. Finding performers who can carry the emotional and physical demands of the franchise will be one of the production’s most closely watched decisions.

Once Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are cast, audiences will have a much clearer idea of how the live-action team will translate the original characters to screen.

The Film Still Does Not Have a Release Date

Despite the latest casting development, the movie does not yet have a confirmed release date. The production is still moving through casting and development, so additional announcements are expected before cameras roll.

That also means there is currently no trailer, finalized principal cast or detailed production schedule available. Melton’s potential involvement is an important development, but it remains one part of a much larger process.

For now, the biggest confirmed pieces are Cretton as director, Lionsgate as the studio behind the adaptation and the ongoing casting search for the film’s characters.

Why Melton’s Potential Casting Matters

Kakashi is the kind of role that requires both action credibility and a strong screen presence, while also needing enough restraint to support the younger characters around him. Melton’s recent work gives him experience with dramatically demanding material, while his television background has already made him familiar to a large audience.

The combination makes the reported casting an intriguing possibility, particularly for a franchise that has spent years trying to make its way to live action.

Nothing is official until a deal is finalized, but Melton moving into negotiations suggests the Naruto movie is progressing toward the casting stage fans have been waiting to see.

Final Thoughts

Charles Melton’s reported negotiations to play Kakashi mark one of the most significant casting developments yet for the live-action Naruto movie. The role would place him alongside a new generation of performers taking on some of the franchise’s most recognizable characters.

With Destin Daniel Cretton directing and the search for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura still underway, the film is gradually becoming more concrete. For now, fans will have to wait for official casting announcements and further production details.