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With Nintendo recently joining the fight to prove that major video game series can beadapted to the big screen withThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, fans have been calling for more. For future projects, that could includeFinal Fantasy. Of course, picking a movie for an adaptation to the big screen is no easy feat. A video game story has to be able to translate to (likely) a single movie while telling a cohesive tale that remains true to the series.
Anyone who has touched a JRPG will have at least heard of theFinal Fantasyseries, one of the most sprawling fantasy game franchises out there. With sixteen mainline games and many more expanding the universe,Final Fantasyhas no shortage of epic stories. Many fans wonder whether one — or any — movie based on one of those stories would translate well enough to make a splash in theaters. The last thing anyone wants is a beloved series likeFinal Fantasyto release a live-action movie and join the live-action adaptation stinker-train.
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The creation of a live-actionFinal Fantasymovie would come with a lot of challenges.A movie could make sense, but it would have to condense an epic story down to two and a half hours at most. Making massive cuts to stories that take up to hundreds of hours to complete is a tricky thing. Luckily, though,the upcomingLegend Of Zeldamoviewill have to do this very thing, meaning it could provide a blueprint for a potentialFinal Fantasymovie. Realistically, the only mainline game that would make sense to adapt without making significant cuts or changes would bethe originalFinal Fantasyfor the NES.Aside from that, an original idea would likely be required for a film adaptation.
If a live-action effort were to be made, it would take a lot of money, regardless of whichFinal Fantasywas being adapted. It would require tons of heavy effects work, creative props,set and costume design, plenty of hours working on refining a script, and, of course, skilled creatives to direct and produce the film. The effort would be incredibly expensive in a live-action format. That cost is the biggest detractor from the potential of a live-actionFinal Fantasymovie. While the series is popular among gamers, getting general audiences interested in a high-concept fantasy film based on a game would be rather difficult.
What Game Would Be The Best to Adapt?
Picking aFinal Fantasygameto adapt to the big screen would be just as hard as picking one to completely remake. Each game in the series brings something unique to the table. Some are steeped deep in fantasy tradition, while others take swings at adding sci-fi elements to the mix. Despite this, there does seem to be some agreement among fans on whichFinal Fantasygames would be the best to look at should a movie or show be made.The top picks from most people areFinal Fantasy 7(mostly because it’s a fan favorite),Final Fantasy 4,Final Fantasy 9,Final Fantasy 10, andFinal Fantasy 14(more on this one later).
Final Fantasy 7
In this sprawling story,the always quotable Cloud Strifeand company go from simple mercenaries fighting an environmental threat, to battling to save the planet from destruction at the hands of Sephiroth. This game is currently receiving a modern remake one game at a time. The game’s current relevance does make it a great option for an adaptation, but the fact that the remake is being split into three massive games should explain why it might not be a perfect fit. If a massively expensive trilogy could be greenlit with only the most important parts of the narrative included, this could very well work. Still, Cloud’s hair might pose the toughest challenge of all in live-action.
Final Fantasy 4
While mostlyforgotten by modern gaming audiences,Final Fantasy 4was only the second game in the series that gamers in the West were able to play. Telling the tale of the Dark Knight turned Paladin Cecil,Final Fantasy 4sees Cecil and his friends trying to save the world from a cosmic entity that threatens the relationships he holds dear. The game is a classic fantasy romp, complete with funny dwarves and creative enemies. With the right cuts and changes,Final Fantasy 4could stand a solid chance at becoming a standalone live-action movie.
Final Fantasy 9
Ina return to classic fantasy storytelling,Final Fantasy 9sees the swashbuckling Zidane kidnapping and then working with Princess Garnet to defeat her villainous mother. With a lot of unique characters and heartfelt moments,Final Fantasy 9could work either as a sprawling epic trilogy or as a standalone film. Ever since the release of the game, fans have been clamoring to get more iconic characters like Vivi and Steiner.
Final Fantasy 10
BecauseFinal Fantasy 10was the first game in the universeto be fully voice-acted, it seems to slot in perfectly whenever fans discuss potential live-action adaptations. This game tells another epic and classicFinal Fantasystory, but this one might add the most heart to the mix. The relationship between the cast, the hauntingly beautiful moments from Yuna (and the more fun moments too), and that gut-wrenching ending all make for a cinematic story. With some streamlining of the game events,Final Fantasy 10might be the best possible option for a movie adaptation of the series.
Is A Live-Action Final Fantasy Movie In The Works?
Unfortunately for fans hoping for a live-actionFinal Fantasy, there is no movie in the works. Given how massive the concept for something like that would be, that fact shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Even worse, there were plans to create a live-action TV series forFinal Fantasy 14, and it seems like those plans have recently been canceled.An article from Kotakurecently discussed the recent death of a live-actionFinal Fantasy 14series:
A previously announced live-action television adaptation of Square Enix’s successful MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, is dead in the water. So says the co-founder of the production company behind the project, Hivemind.
