Final Fantasy XIV Online is getting a TV show adaptation from Square Enix with Sony Pictures Television and Hivemind - marking the first time Final Fantasy will be realized in live-action. The series will be filled with Final Fantasy staples like chocobos, airships, beastmen, and of course, Cid, who has appeared in most Final Fantasy games.
The Final Fantasy XIV series will tell an original story but is directly inspired by the MMORPG's characters and world of Eorzea, which includes elements from many Final Fantasy games before it, such as magitek (originally from Final Fantasy VI).
“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."
Specifically, the Final Fantasy XIV TV show's story will focus on "the struggle between magic and technology in a quest to bring peace to a land in conflict," and will include familiar characters directly from the game along with new ones. That's all we know so far, but the story of Final Fantasy XIV is so massive and detailed, the TV series could pull from any number of threads to craft a thoughtful original narrative, which is being written by Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton (Winter's Knight, The Wells Initiative).
Hivemind, the production company behind Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Witcher and Amazon's The Expanse, currently has a first-look deal with Amazon. Though nothing has officially been confirmed, it wouldn't be surprising to see Final Fantasy XIV land at Amazon or Netflix, given Hivemind's existing connection to the two streaming services. Amazon is currently developing a Wheel of Time adaptation with Sony TV, and is also developing a big-budget new take on Lord of the Rings - the scope of the Final Fantasy universe would make it a natural fit alongside those projects, unless the streamer doesn't want too many fantasy projects competing with each other.
There’s another point in Netflix’s court as well: Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light is already available on that streaming platform. It’s a light-hearted Japanese drama based on a true story about how a son and father reconnect by playing Final Fantasy XIV together.
"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."
There's no release window just yet, but rest assured we'll report on that news as soon as it's available. Considering Final Fantasy XIV hasn't started production and has yet to secure a distributor, we're estimating at least a year before we see even a teaser trailer.
