Hold onto your kunai, gamers! Fresh off the heels of rumors placing him in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot as Hank McCoy/Beast, Charles Melton is now reportedly in talks to take on a very different role: Kakashi Hatake in Destin Daniel Cretton’s highly anticipated live-action Naruto movie. This news has sent ripples through the gaming and anime communities!
Kakashi Incoming?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Melton is currently in “final negotiations” to join Cretton’s project. He’s being considered for the role of Kakashi Hatake, the enigmatic and initially aloof sensei to Team 7, comprised of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. While seemingly indifferent at first glance, Kakashi is revealed to be one of the most skilled and dedicated ninjas in the Hidden Leaf Village, known for his impressive abilities and iconic moves like the devastating Chidori attack.
From Riverdale to Hidden Leaf Village
Melton is perhaps best known for his role in The CW’s Riverdale, but he’s been steadily gaining recognition with roles in films like May December, Warfare, and the critically acclaimed second season of Beef, earning him an Emmy nomination. Meanwhile, Destin Daniel Cretton has rapidly ascended in Hollywood. After directing powerful dramas such as The Glass Castle and Just Mercy, he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a film that’s seemingly shattering box office records every second, earning star Tom Holland quite the hefty paycheck.
The Road to Naruto
Melton is currently the first major name attached to Cretton’s live-action Naruto movie, following the director’s announcement of a casting search for the key roles of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. While production isn’t slated to begin until around February 2027, this project has been in development for quite some time. Lionsgate first attempted to bring a Naruto movie to life over a decade ago. Cretton joined the project in 2024, and importantly, he even has the blessing of series creator Masashi Kishimoto. “After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naruto,” Kishimoto stated. This endorsement speaks volumes about the seriousness and potential of this upcoming adaptation.
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