{"rewrite":{"id":"r_cf765fa819bc63dcd3cf0995","clusterId":"c_040405878a57fcaa8f9ea279","slug":"charles-melton-in-final-talks-to-play-kakashi-in-live-action-naruto-film","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Charles Melton in Final Talks to Play Kakashi in Live-Action Naruto Film","summary":"The Hollywood Reporter says Charles Melton, an Emmy-nominated actor known for Riverdale and Beef, is in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film. Destin Daniel Cretton directs and produces through Hisako. The project began a global casting search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in July.","whyItMatters":"The casting of Kakashi signals the live-action Naruto film is moving forward after years of development, with a global search for the lead trio still underway.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eCharles Melton, the Emmy-nominated actor from Riverdale and the second season of Beef, is in final negotiations to play Kakashi Hatake in Lionsgate\u0026#39;s live-action Naruto film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Melton earned two Emmy nominations for producing and co-starring in Beef season two.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDestin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is directing and producing through his company Hisako alongside Jeyun Munford. Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Emmy Yu, and Jeremy Latcham are also listed as producers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Naruto franchise\u0026#39;s official website announced in July that a global casting search had begun for the main characters Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, with other roles to be cast later. It is unclear whether previously reported writers and producers remain attached to the project.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Charles Melton is in final talks to play Kakashi in Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film, per THR. Cretton directs. Global search for Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura is still on.","twitterPost":"Charles Melton in final negotiations to play Kakashi in Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film, per THR. Destin Daniel Cretton directs. Global casting search for the lead trio continues.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Charles Melton is in final talks to play Kakashi in Lionsgate's live-action Naruto film, per The Hollywood Reporter. Destin Daniel Cretton directs and produces. The global search for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura continues.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-08-20/hollywood-reporter-live-action-naruto-film-in-talks-to-cast-charles-melton-as-kakashi/.240764\",\"title\":\"Hollywood Reporter: Live-Action Naruto Film in Talks to Cast Charles Melton as Kakashi\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4562,"outputTokens":605,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787269950,"createdAt":"2026-08-20T23:37:57.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-20T23:41:45.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-20T23:37:57.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_040405878a57fcaa8f9ea279","canonicalTitle":"News\nHollywood Reporter: Live-Action Naruto Film in Talks to Cast Charles Melton as Kakashi","representativeArticleId":"a_2809c5eb5dc26579144df67e","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Naruto\"],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Charles Melton\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-20T19:33:33.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-20T19:33:33.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-20T23:41:50.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-08-20/hollywood-reporter-live-action-naruto-film-in-talks-to-cast-charles-melton-as-kakashi/.240764","title":"News\nHollywood Reporter: Live-Action Naruto Film in Talks to Cast Charles Melton as Kakashi"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Naruto"],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Charles Melton"],"type":"news","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}