The day is approaching when the Five Kage of Naruto will be brought to live action. A movie adaptation from Lionsgate was confirmed back in 2015, so the road to making this project a reality has clearly been a long one. Still, there have been some positive updates in recent years. Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) will direct and co-write alongside Tasha Huo (The Mighty Nein), while manga and anime creator Masashi Kishimoto takes on a hands-on role in development. Still, casting for Naruto seems a long way off.

Because the live-action Naruto is set up to be a film franchise, it’s unlikely that the five primary Kage introduced in Shippuden will be featured in the first movie. At this stage in the story, we’re sure to meet Konoha’s Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, but his successor and the leaders of the other primary nations shouldn’t come into play until a sequel. This means that even after we’ve heard which actors will play Naruto‘s central characters in the flesh, it could still be a while after that that any Kage casting news is made public.

Still, we can certainly begin to dream. With Lionsgate, Cretton, Huo, and Kishimoto behind the wheel of the live-action Naruto movies, the sky is the limit regarding what stars could step into these roles. It’s always important that the live-action performer for an anime character looks the part, but the reality of casting goes far beyond that. The Five Kage are some of the most powerful shinobi of Naruto’s day, so they must fully embody strength, wisdom, and authority.

Natasha Henstridge As Tsunade

Tsunade is the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. She’s known for being beautiful and devastatingly powerful, and generally reluctant to lead. Regardless, she does a pretty great job of it, guiding Konoha through endless tumult with wisdom and grace. Tsunade also has an extreme temper and isn’t easily swayed from her opinions or prejudices. Still, she is fiercely loyal, deeply compassionate, and subtly affectionate toward those she cares about.

There’s little doubt that Canadian actor Natasha Henstridge has the right look to play Tsunade in the live-action Naruto. Henstridge rose to fame in the ’90s playing Sil in the Species film franchise. From there, she continued to make her mark in the action genre, starring in Maximum Risk alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, She Spies (2002 – 2004), and more. This experience makes Henstridge a shoo-in for Tsunade’s intense combat sequences and displays of power.

Tanner Buchanan As Gaara

Gaara is the Naruto franchise’s favorite redeemed villain. Initially introduced during the Chunin Exams arc, Gaara was revealed to be a fellow Jinchuriki, like Naruto. Full of rage and desperate loneliness, this would-be rival is one of the first Naruto successfully talks some sense into. By Naruto Shippuden, Gaara becomes the Fifth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village. It’s a pretty drastic turn around from the angry, seemingly psychopathic boy he once was.

American actor Tanner Buchanan made a name for himself in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, playing Robby Keene, the son of Karate Kid‘s Johnny Lawrence. Like Gaara, Robby started his series neglected and full of rage. However, the path of redemption revealed him to be reasonable and kind. Buchanan has a strong background in martial arts, which served him extremely well in Cobra Kai. Naturally, this would also come in handy should Buchanan ever get a chance to play Naruto‘s Gaara.

Dave Bautista As A

A is introduced in Naruto Shippuden as the Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village. He was the son of the Third Raikage and was specifically raised to take up the mantle. In the Hidden Cloud Village, the Raikage must have a teammate, and since A didn’t have a brother, “Killer Bee” was chosen to be his B, since there was no one else who came close to A’s immense strength.

There are a few actors who could adequately pull off A’s intense physical presence. Dave Bautista could do it without saying a word. The actor and retired professional wrestler is known for his ruthless aggression on screen, and is best known for playing powerhouse Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy and other installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The combat we see from A in Naruto is also heavily inspired by pro wrestling, so there could hardly be a better fit than Bautista.

Ken Watanabe As Onoki

Onoki is the Third Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village in Naruto. Often described as a stubborn old man, this character appears small and weak, but his unique Dust Release jutsu makes him a force to be reckoned with, even in his age. It’s also evident in Naruto that Onoki is a determined and skilled leader, though his stubbornness leads to a variety of mistakes and regrets.

Naruto couldn’t do any better than Ken Watanabe in the way of casting. This Japanese actor is an absolute icon, having played prominent roles in Letters from Iwo Jima, The Last Samurai, Batman Begins, Inception, Memoirs of a Geisha, and more. Watanabe has a special talent for morally complex characters, making them appear sympathetic even through difficult choices. Though he’s not as old as Onoki is implied to be in Naruto, a little make-up and movie magic would do the trick.

Gemma Chan As Mei

Mei is the Fifth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist in the Naruto universe. She took over the position from the jinchuriki Yagura Karatachi, whose tyrannical rule led to contentious political relations with the other villages. This left Mei in the difficult position of having to put things back together. Despite the Hidden Mist’s bloody reputation, Mei is kind, cheerful, and flirtatious. Like any Kage, she is also extremely powerful, specializing in the Boil Release Jutsu.

British actor Gemma Chan is just the performer to pull off Mei’s contrasting sweetness and strength. She’s no stranger to the action genre, famously playing Minn-Evre (Doctor Minerva) in Captain Marvel and the wider MCU. As a fashion icon, Chan would have no trouble looking picture-perfect and elegant in each scene without compromising Mei’s physical authority. It’s everything we could ask for from a great live-action Naruto adaptation.