"An announcement related to a new animated film and its worldwide premiere."
Alongside that, the panel will also show the first promo video for the Naruto Card Game.
The panel lineup is strong too. Voice actors Junko Takeuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama will be there, along with Studio Pierrot executive producer Yoshihiko Tominaga and a representative from Bandai. Having the people behind the anime on stage is a good sign that this is a serious reveal.
If it goes as expected, this will be the first Naruto film since Boruto: Naruto the Movie in 2015. That's a long gap for a franchise that has had 11 theatrical films, over 250 million manga copies sold, and an anime that's available in more than 145 countries and regions. The original series started on TV Tokyo in 2002 and Naruto Shippuden wrapped up in 2017. Since then, new anime content has been limited, with the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series going on a break in 2023. The timing also feels right, since Naruto just turned 27 this month, with the manga launching in September 1999.
As for what the film is actually about, nothing has been confirmed yet, not the story, the release date, or the staff. Some fans think it could be the four-episode Naruto revival announced in 2023 and delayed indefinitely, possibly reworked into a feature film. Others are hoping for a Boruto-era continuation. Both are just theories until the panel happens, so it's best to wait for the official word before getting too attached to either one.
It's also worth keeping this separate from the live-action Naruto movie that's in the works, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, which has reportedly signed Charles Melton as Kakashi. That's a different project. This reveal is about the animated side of the franchise, which is what long-time anime fans have been waiting on.
Set a reminder for October 10. We'll update this post with the real details as soon as they drop, including the film's title and release date if they're confirmed, so keep an eye on AnimeHub.
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