Charles Melton is reportedly in final negotiations to portray Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate's upcoming live-action Naruto film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," is helming the project.
Kakashi Hatake serves as the sensei to Team 7, which includes protagonists Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Initially presented as a detached mentor with a penchant for adult literature, Kakashi evolves into one of the Hidden Leaf Village's most formidable and dedicated ninja, renowned for his exceptional skills and signature Chidori attack.
Melton, widely recognized for his role in The CW's "Riverdale," has recently garnered critical acclaim for performances in "May December" and "Warfare," as well as his Emmy-nominated role in "Beef" season two. Cretton, who previously directed "The Glass Castle" and "Just Mercy," made his MCU debut with "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
The Naruto movie is slated to begin production around February 2027. Cretton joined the project in 2024 and has received the endorsement of series creator Masashi Kishimoto, who stated that Cretton's talent for creating character-driven dramas made him the ideal director for the adaptation.