Lionsgate has teamed up with Sony Pictures for its high-profile adaptation of Naruto.
The deal, which came after a multi-studio tender, will see Sony co-finance the film and handle international distribution of the live-action feature film based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, which has become a global entertainment brand.
Lionsgate has now officially given the green light to the project, which is the sequel to Destin Daniel Cretton’s $2.5 billion hit Spider-Man: A Whole New Day. Cretton is writing the screenplay and will direct and produce. Production is expected to begin in spring 2027, with Lionsgate continuing to oversee the film’s development and production and handle domestic distribution.
That Sony’s film group, led by Tom Rothman, comes out on top seems almost preordained. Cretton signed an initial three-year production deal with the studio in September, signaling a strong relationship with his Brand new day partner. And Sony, headquartered in Japan, is also home to Crunchyroll, the popular and arguably largest anime-focused streaming service.
“With its deep manga and anime expertise and global distribution prowess, Sony Pictures is the ideal partner for Narutoand we are thrilled to join forces with Tom Rothman and his team to bring this extraordinary property to audiences around the world,” Adam Fogelson, president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. “We share enormous ambition to Naruto and a commitment to making it a truly global cinematic event that stays true to what millions of existing fans love and invites many more to embrace what makes it truly special.
Fogelson added: “I am extremely proud of Erin Westerman and James Myers for their work developing this film and bringing Destiny into the fold, and of Helen Lee-Kim for choosing Sony as our international partner. Ari Arad, Tetsu Fujimura and our production team also deserve a big thanks for their hard work and support.”
Rothman, CEO and Chairman of Sony Motion Picture Group, said: “Lionsgate has done a masterful job putting together an A-grade adaptation, and we are honored to have been chosen as a partner. Not to mention, we had sweet success this summer with Destin and are thrilled to be back in their capable hands.”
Naruto is the coming-of-age story of an enthusiastic young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki who wants to grow up to become the leader of his ninja village but also has the spirit of a nine-tailed demon fox inside him. The story was serialized in the popular Japanese newspaper Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014 and later spawned a few popular animated series that aired for years on Cartoon Network and Disney XD.
Naruto is one of a select group of entertainment properties that have achieved extraordinary global reach, enduring popularity and cultural impact. Kishimoto’s manga has sold over 250 million copies in over 60 countries and territories, becoming a multi-billion dollar franchise. The anime adaptation has reached audiences in over 145 countries and territories.
“As a long-time fan of NarutoI always liked that behind the extraordinary action lies a story full of heart, humor and humanity. Kishimoto-sensei has created a world in which unlikely heroes do extraordinary things, and that’s what makes it so special,” Cretton said in a statement. “Lionsgate has been an incredible partner and I’m thrilled to reunite with the fantastic team at Sony. Together, we are committed to capturing everything fans love about Naruto while introducing him to a whole new generation. »
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu produce for Arad Productions. Cretton is producing alongside Jeyun Munford through his company Hisako.
Charles Melton is the only cast member and is said to be playing Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja mentor of the main character and his friends. The search for the actor to play Naruto is currently underway.
Erin Westerman and James Myers are overseeing the project from Lionsgate.
Gn entert
