Walker Scobell has become the internet's top pick to play Naruto. Widespread fan-casting began swirling around the young actor following Lionsgate's July 2026 announcement of a worldwide search for the three Team 7 leads (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura) for its live-action film, helmed by writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi).
Rumors took off immediately, with fans pointing to Scobell's signature humor, high energy, and blonde look as the perfect match for Naruto's iconic personality.
However, the idea has faced pushback. Some argue that at 17, Scobell is too old to play a pre-teen Naruto, while others stress that the production should prioritize authentic Asian casting rather than leaning on established Hollywood stars.
Still, fans have plenty of reasons to link him to the role. Scobell has confirmed Naruto was his very first anime, previously did a casual cosplay stream as the character, and even named Naruto as his ideal companion during Percy Jackson promos.