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Sony, Hivemind, Square Enix Develop Live-Action Final Fantasy Series
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Sony Pictures Television and Hivemind announced on Thursday that they are partnering with Square Enix to develop a live-action television series adaptation inspired by the world of the Final Fantasy XIV game. The series will have an original story set in Eorzea, and it will be the first live-action television adaptation for the game series.
Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton (Winter's Knight, The Wells Initiative) are writing the series. The series "will explore the struggle between magic and technology in a quest to bring peace to a land in conflict." The adaptation will have both original and returning characters, and it will feature the live-action debut of the character Cid. It will also incorporate aspects of the game's world such as magitek, beastmen, airships, and chocobos.
Lustig and Thornton will serve as executive producers for the project with Hivemind's Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel, and Dinesh Shamdasani.
The Final Fantasy XIV Dad of Light live-action television miniseries debuted on Netflix in the United States in September 2017. The original source material inspired a live-action film remake with a new cast that opened on June 21.
Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIV Online for personal computers in September 2010. After criticism from fans, the company revealed an updated version of the game titled Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn that added a new world and story. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn launched on Windows PC and PS3 in August 2013, and then on PS4 in April 2014. The game's companion app for iOS and Android launched in August.
Square Enix released the first expansion for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, titled Heavensward, in June 2015. The second expansion, Stormblood, launched in June 2017. The the "Shadowbringers" expansion will launch on July 2. The game has surpassed 16 million registered users worldwide.
The Final Fantasy game series has sold more than 144 million copies worldwide since 1987.
Source: Deadline (Denise Petski)
