The live-action Naruto film is in active pre-production with a global casting search for Team 7 underway, while the franchise continues to expand through theme park attractions, a new trading card game, and regional-language streaming dubs.
Lionsgate's long-gestating live-action Naruto film has moved past the scripting phase into active pre-production. In July 2026, the studio opened a worldwide casting search for the three lead roles of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, with Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct. The project was first announced in 2016 and had remained in development with few public updates. Original creator Masashi Kishimoto released a statement expressing excitement about the film becoming a Hollywood production.
Meanwhile, the franchise has been expanding its physical and digital footprint. Europe's first Naruto-themed area, Naruto - Konoha Land, opened at Parc Spirou Provence in southern France in April 2026, driving a 67.7% attendance increase. A non-verbal live stage show, "Ninja Show Naruto," is set to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027. Bandai announced a new Naruto Card Game for a worldwide simultaneous release in 2027, with the first public trial at Gen Con 2026. Crunchyroll began streaming Naruto Shippuden with Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs in India starting July 6, with the Hindi dub exclusive to the platform.
Several collaborations and merchandise lines have also launched. PUBG MOBILE Version 4.5 added a Naruto Shippuden collaboration with map recreations and ninjutsu abilities. A limited-time event at Nijigen no Mori's NARUTO & BORUTO Shinobi-Zato lets participants perform the 44 hand seals for Water Dragon Jutsu. Premium Bandai re-released a G.E.M. Series Naruto Shippuden Shinobi World War figure, and Mega House released a palm-sized Itachi figure alongside a re-release of its Nyarto cat figure line. The franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations have been cited in connection with the new card game announcement.
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Anime! Anime!'s annual reader survey asked which female character looks best in a yukata. Ran Mouri from Detective Conan took first place with about 20% support, followed by Hinata Hyuga from Naruto at about 13% and Mahiru Shiina from The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten at about 4%. The poll ran from June 9 to June 17 and received 434 responses.
Lionsgate has opened a worldwide casting search for the three lead roles in its live-action film adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga, the franchise's official website announced on July 10. The studio is seeking actors for Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, the three members of Team 7. Casting for other characters will be announced at a later date. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is directing the film and producing through his company Hisako alongside Jeyun Munford. Producers include Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, as well as Jeremy Latcham. In a statement, Cretton said he was honored to bring Kishimoto's world to the big screen in live action for the first time. Kishimoto also commented, saying he could not believe the film is becoming a Hollywood movie and that he is looking forward to meeting the actors who will play his characters. Tasha Huo was reported to be working on the script as of November 2023. Lionsgate first secured the rights to adapt the manga in 2015, and Cretton was announced as director in 2024.
Starting July 10, Nijigen no Mori's NARUTO & BORUTO Shinobi-Zato offers a limited-time event where participants perform the 44 hand seals for Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu. Staff guide participants through the sequence, and completing all 44 triggers a 50-liter water spray. A beginner version with 4 seals is also available. Participants receive one of four new Water Style stickers. The event runs daily from 15:00 until September 30.
Lionsgate has started a worldwide casting search for the main roles of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno in the Hollywood live-action film adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's manga Naruto. The announcement was made on July 10, 2026, via the official Naruto website and social media. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is attached to direct. Casting for additional characters will be announced sequentially. The project was first announced in 2016 but had remained in development with few public updates. Original creator Masashi Kishimoto released a statement expressing excitement, saying he hopes for "further miracles" and looks forward to "miraculous encounters with passionate and wonderful actors." The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014 and has a massive global fanbase. Cretton also posted on his Instagram, calling it an honor to bring the world to the big screen for the first time as a live-action film.
KRAFTON released Version 4.5 of PUBG MOBILE on July 9, 2026, adding a collaboration with Naruto Shippuden. The update recreates locations from the anime, including the Hidden Leaf Village, Hokage Rock, and the Valley of the End, on the Erangel, Livik, and Sanhok maps. Players can use ninjutsu such as Rasengan, Chidori, Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, and Flying Thunder God Technique, which unlock gradually from July 9 to July 14. A boss battle against the Nine-Tailed Fox (Kurama) is available, with Kurama appearing in three states: slumbering, prowling, or alert. Starting July 17, a special mode lets squads defend the Hidden Leaf from a controlled Kurama. Collaboration costumes include sets for Naruto (Sage Mode and Six Paths Sage Mode), Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Hinata, Gaara, Tsunade, Madara, and Jiraiya, plus Akatsuki and Konoha Anbu sets. A giveaway offers over USD 600 in free items, including the Young Naruto set, Fourth Hokage's Cloak, and the song 'Blue Bird'. An animated short by Studio Pierrot accompanies the update. Offline events are planned in multiple countries, including a celebration in Jakarta from July 10 to 16.
Premium Bandai is accepting reservations for a re-release of the G.E.M. Series Naruto Shippuden Uzumaki Naruto Shinobi World War Ver. figure. Priced at 17,600 yen, it ships in December 2026 and recreates Naruto falling while forming hand signs, with a mesh chain mail texture.
Crunchyroll announced it will begin streaming Naruto Shippuden with Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs in India starting July 6. The Hindi dub will be exclusive to Crunchyroll. The dubbed episodes will roll out in batches through September 2026, covering the first 220 episodes of the anime. The move is part of Crunchyroll's push to expand anime's reach in India, where demand for local-language content is growing. Naruto Shippuden follows a teenage Naruto returning to his village to face the Akatsuki organization, with higher stakes and bigger battles. The series is one of the biggest franchises in anime, and the addition of regional dubs aims to make it more accessible to Indian audiences. The rollout will include all three languages, with episodes releasing in phases over the next few months.
The Naruto franchise is expanding its live entertainment offerings with a new non-verbal stage show titled "Ninja Show Naruto," set to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027. Unlike previous stage adaptations, the production will tell its story without spoken dialogue, relying on physical performance, acrobatics, aerial stunts, projection mapping, and the theater's traditional Kabuki stage mechanisms. The show aims to be accessible to audiences regardless of language. Yuri Takahashi and Ryuma Aoi will alternate in the role of Naruto Uzumaki, with REI as Sasuke Uchiha, Yui Oikawa as Sakura Haruno, and HIROMA as Kakashi Hatake. Go Ueki, whose previous credits include "Attack on Titan: The Musical" and "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon," is directing. Neil Dorward of Cirque du Soleil is serving as global creative consultant, and Shinjiro Kameda is handling composition. A teaser visual and announcement trailer have also been released alongside the cast and staff details.
Abema announced on June 25 that it will open a dedicated Naruto channel and broadcast all 720 episodes of the TV anime, from the original series through Naruto Shippuden, for free daily from June 26 to July 25. The real-time limited free broadcast marks the first time Abema has opened a channel for the series.
Bandai Spirits' Ichiban Kuji lottery for Naruto Shippuden: The Kazekage Rescue Arc launches on June 26, 2026, at 790 yen per draw. The top prizes are MASTERLISE figures up to 25 cm tall, including A Prize Naruto Uzumaki, B Prize Haruno Sakura, C Prize Hatake Kakashi, D Prize Gaara, and E Prize Sasori. Additional prizes include desktop figures of Kurama and explosive clay, a stamp and note collection, acrylic charms from the -NARUTO 72 series- illustrations, and a visual sheet set featuring Akatsuki members. The Last One Prize, awarded to the person who pulls the final ticket, is a MASTERLISE figure of Deidara in a dynamic pose. On social media, fans have praised the lineup, calling the Deidara figure 'too amazing' and 'too cool'. The lottery will be available at Seven-Eleven stores, Ito-Yokado stores, Yumetown stores, and other locations while supplies last.
CyberConnect2 launched the Scenario Designer Training School 2026 audition project on June 23 to find scenario designers for anime-licensed games. The first-round online test is available on a special website, with questions covering series the studio has adapted, including Naruto, Demon Slayer, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Dragon Ball. The deadline is August 2.
MegaHouse's G.E.M. Series has unveiled first color samples of Attack on Titan palm-sized Eren and Levi figures, plus first prototypes of Bungo Stray Dogs Dazai and Naruto Shippuden Minato. Re-releases of Naruto, Demon Slayer, and Gintama figures were also announced, alongside a Premium Bandai lottery event.
To mark Father's Day, Nijimen surveyed its readers on their favorite father characters in anime and manga. The top 10 list includes Crayon Shin-chan's Nohara Hiroshi, Pokémon's Norman, Kingdom's Ō Sen, Naruto's Namikaze Minato, My Hero Academia's Endeavor, and Sakamoto Days' Sakamoto Taro, among others.
Bandai Card Games announced a new trading card game, Naruto Card Game, on June 18 during its Next Plan Presentation. The game is based on Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga and is set for a worldwide simultaneous release in 2027. The first public trial will take place at Gen Con 2026 in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, where attendees can participate in tutorial sessions. Participants will receive a gift set including a CP-001 Chakra Card Gen Con 2026 Ver. promotional card, a backpack, a sticker, and a ticket to purchase an official playmat. Additional details, including card designs and the game's roadmap, are scheduled for July 29. Kishimoto provided a new illustration of Naruto and Sasuke holding cards and a comment expressing his hope that the cards reach fans' hands and hearts. Bandai previously released a Naruto Collectible Card Game from 2006 to 2013. The announcement comes as part of the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Japan's Minister of State for Economic Security, Kimi Onoda, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's use of Naruto imagery in a generative AI video posted on Truth Social on June 6. Onoda said the use risked damaging the work's reputation and urged caution, even if it does not constitute clear copyright infringement.
Europe's first Naruto-themed area, Naruto - Konoha Land, opened on April 4, 2026, at Parc Spirou Provence in southern France. A grand opening ceremony was held on June 4 with TV Tokyo and other partners. The area features attractions like the Kyubi Unleashed roller coaster and a Rasengan spinning ride, plus life-sized statues of 10 characters. Since opening, park attendance rose 67.7% compared to April 2025.
The 2014 film 'The Last: Naruto the Movie' is available for unlimited streaming on seven Japanese services as of June 2026, according to Anime Anime. The platforms are DMM TV, U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video (via the Anime Times channel), Lemino, d Anime Store, Hulu, and Netflix. DMM TV is the cheapest option at 550 yen per month with a 14-day free trial and 550 bonus points for new users. U-NEXT offers a 31-day free trial at 2,189 yen per month. The film is the official canon epilogue to the main Naruto story, set two years after the Fourth Ninja War. It depicts Naruto and Hinata's relationship as the moon threatens to collide with Earth. Tsuneo Kobayashi directed the film. Junko Takeuchi voices Naruto, and Nana Mizuki voices Hinata. The film is not available on Disney Plus, ABEMA, FOD, TELASA, or YouTube.
A story guide for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was released on June 4. The single volume condenses the first part of the manga into about 600 pages, using selected episodes from 20 volumes, story digests, and columns. The cover is newly drawn by Mikio Ikemoto, and a double-sided pinup poster is included. Volume 8 of the second part, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, also launched today.
Hololive VTuber Nerissa Ravencroft sat down with Anime News Network to discuss her classical singing training, the process of adapting Japanese lyrics to English, her favorite Hololive songs, and her family streams. She also touched on her bond with her Hololive Advent genmates and her history as a singer.
Mega House is releasing a palm-sized figure of Itachi Uchiha from Naruto Shippuden in November 2026. The company is also re-releasing the fifth series of its MEGA CAT PROJECT Nyarto! line, featuring eight cat versions of characters including Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and young Itachi.
The NARUTO / BORUTO Official YouTube channel, which launched in March 2026, released a digest video of the Wave Country arc on March 12. The arc, which is the first major mission for Team 7, covers the team's introduction to Kakashi, his Copy Ninja technique, and the debut of his original jutsu Chidori. The story also features the popular antagonists Zabuza Momochi and Haku, who later reappear in the Fourth Great Ninja War via the Impure World Reincarnation. Fan comments on the video praised the arc's emotional depth and the character moments between Zabuza and Haku. The digest omits one notable scene: the first coordinated attack between Naruto and Sasuke using the Windmill Triple Blade Shadow Shuriken technique. The channel also uploaded a special music video on March 19 featuring Kakashi and Obito set to KANA-BOON's "Silhouette."
Japanese hip-hop group Home Made Kazoku announced on May 19 that they are ending their decade-long hiatus and returning to music under their original label Ki/oon Music. The trio, known for anime theme songs, will start with festival appearances this summer.
A line of 22 limited-edition NARUTO Shippuden items will go on sale at Thank You Mart stores across Japan starting in mid-June 2026. This is the first time the convenience store chain has carried exclusive merchandise from the TV anime. The lineup includes practical home goods such as laundry nets and acrylic bangs clips, as well as collectible items like random can badges and acrylic keychains. Prices range from 390 yen to 429 yen including tax for most items. Advance reservations are available through the official online shop. The merchandise features motifs representing each ninja village and characters including Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The NARUTO manga, created by Masashi Kishimoto, began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 and concluded in 2014 with 700 chapters. The TV anime aired from 2002, with NARUTO Shippuden running from 2007 to March 2017. The franchise has sold over 250 million copies worldwide across more than 60 countries and regions.
Five new Naruto Shippuden T-shirts featuring Rasengan, Chidori, Kurama, and Pain's Six Paths motifs go on early sale at Fuji-Q Highland in late May 2026. General release follows in late July. Each shirt costs 3,300 yen.