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

Charles Melton Enters Final Negotiations for Kakashi Role

The live-action Naruto film adaptation has reportedly found its Kakashi Hatake. Actor Charles Melton is in final negotiations to play the masked ninja mentor, according to exclusive reporting by The Hollywood Reporter.

The high-profile project, based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, is being developed by director Destin Daniel Cretton.

Aligning Prestige Talent With Authentic Casting Goals

Melton is known for his roles in May December, Riverdale, and Beef. At 35 years old, the actor fits the age bracket for Kakashi, who is in his late twenties at the beginning of the source material.

According to additional coverage by /Film, Melton’s casting also aligns with the production’s reported goal to cast an authentically Asian ensemble for the cinematic adaptation.

The Master and the Outcast in Hidden Leaf Village

The narrative centers on the titular young ninja, Naruto Uzumaki. He is an outcast who harbors the sealed soul of a powerful nine-tailed fox demon known as Kurama.

As Naruto begins his training to become his village’s leader, he is placed under the guidance of Kakashi. The jonin instructor is famously nicknamed the “Copy Ninja” for his use of a borrowed Sharingan eye. The character’s complex backstory and mask-wearing persona make him a foundational pillar across the manga’s 700 chapters.

Franchise Logistics Under Director Destin Daniel Cretton

As development continues under Cretton—who recently directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day—the studio has yet to announce an official theatrical release date.

Securing Intellectual Property as Pre-Production Advances

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