Sony Pictures will co-finance Lionsgate’s live-action adaptation of Naruto and handle its international distribution, the two studios announced Tuesday, ending a competitive, multi-studio bidding process for one of the biggest untapped properties in global entertainment.
Lionsgate has officially greenlit the project. Destin Daniel Cretton, coming off the $2.5 billion worldwide run of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is writing the script and will direct and produce. Production is slated to begin in spring 2027, with Lionsgate overseeing development and production and handling domestic distribution.
The Calculus Behind Sony’s Win
That Sony’s motion picture group, led by chairman and CEO Tom Rothman, came out on top had a certain logic to it. Cretton signed a three-year first-look producing deal with the studio in September, cementing a relationship built on their Brand New Day partnership. Sony is also headquartered in Japan and owns Crunchyroll, the streaming service widely described as the largest focused on anime.
“With their deep expertise in manga and anime and global distribution prowess, Sony Pictures is a perfect partner for Naruto, and we’re thrilled to join forces with Tom Rothman and his team to bring this extraordinary property to audiences around the world,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in a statement.
Rothman returned the compliment. “Lionsgate has done a masterful job in putting together an A-level adaptation, and we are honored to be chosen as their partner,” he said. “Not to mention, we had a sweet success this summer with Destin and are delighted to be back in his capable hands.”
A Franchise That Crosses Every Border
The numbers explain why studios fought for this one. Masashi Kishimoto’s manga has sold more than 250 million copies across over 60 countries and territories, growing into a multibillion-dollar franchise. The anime adaptation has reached audiences in more than 145 countries and territories, running for years on Cartoon Network and Disney XD in the United States.
The joint announcement described the series as having “transcended borders, languages and generations,” with themes of friendship, perseverance and belonging that have built a devoted worldwide fanbase. The story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who wants to lead his village and carries the spirit of a nine-tailed demon fox inside him. It was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014.
For an ordinary fan, the distribution split matters more than the corporate maneuvering. Lionsgate controls the film’s release in the United States, while Sony steers it into theaters almost everywhere else, a division of labor that puts the movie’s overseas rollout in the hands of a studio whose parent company sits in the franchise’s home market.
Cretton’s Follow-Up Act
Cretton’s last film set a high bar. Spider-Man: Brand New Day became the highest-grossing movie ever at the domestic box office with $958.8 million, and its $2.5 billion worldwide total ranks third all time behind Avengers: Endgame ($2.94 billion) and Avatar ($2.9 billion), according to Deadline.
The filmmaker framed the project as a personal one. “As a longtime fan of Naruto, I’ve always loved that beneath the extraordinary action is a story filled with heart, humor, and humanity,” Cretton said. “Kishimoto-sensei created a world where unlikely heroes do extraordinary things, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Kishimoto is reported to be closely involved with the film. Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu are producing for Arad Productions, with Cretton and Jeyun Munford producing through Hisako. Erin Westerman and James Myers oversee the project for Lionsgate.
What Comes Next
Casting is already moving. Charles Melton is the only actor attached so far and is said to be playing Kakashi Hatake, the elite ninja mentor to the main character and his friends, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The search for the actor who will play Naruto himself is underway.
Lionsgate’s recent track record offers a comparison point for what the studios are chasing. The company’s Michael recently passed $1 billion worldwide, with Universal handling distribution overseas, a reminder that a strong international partner can turn a domestic hit into a global one. Sony is betting the same formula works for a ninja.
Sources
- Sony Partners With Lionsgate on Destin Daniel Cretton’s ‘Naruto’ Movie (Exclusive)
- Sony Partners With Lionsgate for Destin Daniel Cretton’s Live-Action ‘Naruto’ Movie
- Sony Partners With Lionsgate for Destin Daniel Cretton’s Live-Action ‘Naruto’ Movie
- 'Naruto' from Destin Daniel Cretton To Be Co-Financed by Sony & Lionsgate
- Sony Partners With Lionsgate on Destin Daniel Cretton’s ‘Naruto’ Movie (Exclusive)
Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (CC BY-SA 2.0)
