Charles Melton in talks to play Kakashi in live-action Naruto movie
Charles Melton is reportedly in close talks to play the masked ninja Kakashi Hatake in the upcoming live-action Naruto film, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is set to helm the project for Lionsgate.
Per /Film, the casting search for the film's lead roles began globally last month, with a focus on finding an authentically Asian cast. Melton, who is 35 and Korean American, is said to be in the right age range for the character, who is in his late twenties at the start of the Naruto story.
The report notes Melton's recent turn as a vengeful cop in the film Her Private Hell shows an interest in action roles. Landing Kakashi would place him in a major mainstream franchise, as the character is a central mentor figure to the series' three main heroes: Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Collider confirms the film is in development, though no release date has been set. The casting news comes amid separate speculation that Melton was being eyed for a role in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
If he signs on, Melton would be committing to a potential multi-film series, as Kakashi's story is crucial throughout the entire Naruto saga.
