Naruto, live-action casting heats up
A potential agreement would also bring a change from the original material
The Naruto live-action might have found its Kakashi Hatake. Charles Melton is reportedly in final negotiations to play the Team 7 sensei in the film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and produced by Lionsgate.
Reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the news obviously does not yet equate to an official announcement, but it indicates that the character's casting has entered an advanced stage. Known for Riverdale, Beef, and the remarkable war film Warfare, Melton would have a decidedly different profile from that of a young, inexperienced actor.
A Difference That Doesn't Go Unnoticed
A potential agreement would also bring a change from the original material. At the beginning of Naruto, Kakashi is about 26 years old, while Melton is 35. The film could therefore present a slightly older version of the Konoha ninja.
The choice would make sense, considering Kakashi's role as a guide to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The character represents the first true point of reference for the future Team 7, and his bell test is one of the fundamental moments at the beginning of the story.
For the film, Cretton will also have to decide how much space to dedicate to the Land of Waves arc and Team 7's first mission. Meanwhile, Melton's potential arrival offers a first solid clue as to how Lionsgate intends to bring Naruto to the cinema.