The search for the next Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura is officially on. Lionsgate launched a worldwide casting call for the three leads of its long-gestating live-action Naruto film on 9 July 2026 — and the net has been cast so wide that actors from anywhere in the world, including Singapore, are potentially eligible to audition.

A Global Audition — Who’s Being Cast and What We Know

Lionsgate is searching for actors to fill the three central roles that define the franchise: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno — collectively known as Team 7. Additional character casting is expected to follow in a later phase. The studio is specifically not looking for established child stars; reports indicate the search favours fresh, unknown young talent with the right energy for the roles.

Application details have not yet been published. The official guidance from the Naruto official site is to follow naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s verified social media accounts (Instagram, X, Facebook) where legitimate submission instructions for international applicants will appear first. If you see audition forms on third-party accounts, treat them with extreme caution — the real call will come through official channels only.

The Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

The film will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). He also wrote the script. The director is currently finishing Spider-Man: Brand New Day (releasing 31 July 2026) before turning his full attention to the Naruto production, which is tracking towards a 2027 shoot with a potential theatrical release around 2028, though no dates have been formally announced.

Cretton’s experience bringing a beloved Asian franchise to a mass Western audience — and doing it with respect for the source material — is exactly why this hire generated such excitement when it was announced. His ability to balance spectacle with character-driven storytelling is a good fit for a story as emotionally dense as Naruto’s.

“A String of Miracles” — Kishimoto’s Reaction

Masashi Kishimoto, who created the Naruto manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump back in 1999, has not held back his excitement. Writing on the official Naruto site, he said: “Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, Naruto, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie! And an even greater miracle is that the film will be directed by the one and only Destin Daniel Cretton. I am eagerly looking forward to the miraculous encounters that will bring us extraordinary and passionate actors!”

Cretton echoed the feeling: “Kishimoto-sensei’s stories have inspired generations of fans around the world, and it’s an honour to bring his world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time. I’m thrilled to kick off this casting search for Team 7.”

What Singapore Fans Should Know

Naruto is one of the formative anime of an entire generation here. The casting call being genuinely global is significant: this isn’t a Japan-or-US-only search — it is open to talent worldwide. For Singaporean and Southeast Asian actors with the right skills and the right look, this is a real shot.

The movie is still years away from screens — no SG or SEA release timeline has been announced, and regional distribution plans are not yet confirmed. But for anime fans who grew up with the franchise, the knowledge that a director of Cretton’s calibre is at the helm, and that the casting is genuinely inclusive of Asian talent, is a promising sign that Lionsgate is approaching this adaptation with care.

Keep an eye on naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s official social channels for audition details when they land.