Live-Action Naruto Movie Greenlit: Sony Joins Lionsgate, Filming Starts Spring 2027

The short answer first: the live-action Naruto movie is officially greenlit. Lionsgate is making it, Sony Pictures has come on board to help pay for it and handle the release outside the US, and filming is expected to start in spring 2027. There's no release date yet, and no one has been cast.

The short answer: greenlit, filming next spring, no release date yet

After years of quiet development, this is the first real production milestone for the film. The greenlight was reported on 3 November, and the spring 2027 start for production was part of the same announcement.

It is worth being straight about the timeline. If cameras only start rolling in spring 2027, a release that same year looks unlikely. Big action films need months of shooting and a long post-production stretch after that. For now, spring 2027 is a filming date, nothing more.

What Sony joining actually changes: who pays, who releases it where

Sony joined after a competitive bidding war between several studios, which tells you the project was in demand. Sony comes in as co-financier and as the international distributor.

• Lionsgate keeps overseeing development and production
• Lionsgate handles distribution in the US
• Sony leads international distribution
• Sony also shares the cost as co-financier

One honest note for readers in India. Sony handling international distribution is confirmed, but no India release date or India-specific plan has been announced. We'll add it here the moment one is.

Director, producers and Masashi Kishimoto's role

Destin Daniel Cretton will write, direct and produce the film. That is a lot of creative control in one pair of hands, which usually means a clearer vision on screen.

The film is based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga, the source of the whole Naruto story. Kishimoto created Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi on the page long before any of this, and the movie adapts his work rather than starting from scratch.

Casting: what is confirmed and what is not

Here is what is actually confirmed. A worldwide casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi was launched in July 2026. That is it. No actor has been announced for any of the four roles.

You'll probably see fan casts and rumour posts doing the rounds. Some of them are fun. None of them are news yet. When a name is officially confirmed, it will be big enough that you won't have to hunt for it, and we'll update this article as soon as it lands.

What to watch while you wait: the anime order in brief

You have plenty of time to catch up, or to go back to the start. Our Naruto page covers the series itself, and our Naruto watch order guide walks you through the anime in the right order, filler and all, so you can plan a rewatch before the film gets closer.

Quick questions