Video game

Sony Pictures Television Developing Final Fantasy XIV As Live-Action Series – Forbes


Sony Pictures Television and production company Hivemind announced they’ve struck a deal with videogame developer Square Enix to bring the world of Final Fantasy XIV to the screen as a live-action series. The companies say the series is “inspired directly by the world and characters of the title’s fourteenth installment” and will “embrace the bold and genre-bending sensibilities of the long-running Final Fantasy series.” The announcement represents one of the boldest steps to date to bring videogame-based content to the wider media landscape, and positions the property for maximum visibility leading into the launch of the hotly-anticipated next major installment of the series, Final Fantasy XV.

The Final Fantasy series has been a staple of the videogame industry for 30 years, with a footprint extending to all major consoles and handheld systems. The 14 titles have racked up billions in sales worldwide, in addition to massive licensing revenues from toys, games, manga, soundtracks, concerts and live events. Though the games have inspired animated series and features over the years, this will be the first live action adaptation.

Fans of the best-selling game franchise will recognize key characters and settings in the upcoming show. Filled with iconic hallmarks of the title’s mythology – magitek and beastmen, airships and chocobos – the series will feature a mixture of new and familiar faces, including the live-action debut of Cid – one of the games’ central characters who has appeared in almost every installment of the franchise to date. 

“Final Fantasy XIV and Eorzea are the perfect gateway into Final Fantasy for longtime fans and newcomers alike,” said Sony Pictures Television Co-President Chris Parnell. “This show is about embracing and embodying all of the elements that have made the mythos such an endlessly captivating phenomenon, and it’s an immense honor to be bringing all of Eorzea’s iconic characters, settings, and concepts – including fan-favorites like Cid and, of course, the chocobos – to life for a television audience.”

Hivemind, which also produces Amazon’s The Expanse and the upcoming adaption of The Witcher on Netflix, will spearhead the development under the direction of Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel and Dinesh Shamdasani. Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton have been commissioned to write for the series and will also serve as executive producers.

“Television is the ideal medium to capture the extraordinary depth, sophisticated themes, and unparalleled imagination of Final Fantasy and its multitude of unique and fully realized characters,” said Jason Brown, Hivemind Co-Founder and Co-President. “We are working tirelessly to bring together artists from around the world who are united in honoring the extraordinary legacy of this franchise and its millions of fans around the world.”

No production schedules or distribution deals have been announced, but in today’s hotly competitive market for original content to anchor streaming services, it seems likely the show will find someone interested in bringing all those gaming fans to a different screen, at least for a couple of hours.



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