New Live-Action Final Fantasy XIV Series Cancelled: Pandemic and Production Challenges the Culprit
In a disappointing turn of events, the highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the popular MMO game Final Fantasy XIV has officially been cancelled. The series was set to be a collaboration between Sony Pictures Television and production company Hivemind, known for their work on shows like “The Witcher” on Netflix and “The Expanse.” However, due to a combination of the ongoing pandemic and the sheer scale and requirements needed for proper production, the project has been scrapped.
The cancellation comes as a blow to fans who were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see the fantastical world of Final Fantasy brought to life in a live-action format. The game franchise has previously been adapted into full-length CGI films such as “Spirits Within” and “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children,” but this would have marked the first time that the world of Final Fantasy would be explored in a live-action television series.
When the live-action series was announced in 2019, Chris Parnell, Co-President of Sony Pictures, expressed his excitement about bringing the iconic characters, locations, and concepts of Eorzea to the television audience. The series was intended to capture the essence of what makes the Final Fantasy mythology so captivating.
Unfortunately, despite the initial enthusiasm and progress made on the pilot script written by Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton, the project ultimately faced insurmountable challenges. The large scale and production requirements proved to be too much for any studio to take on, even though Amazon was the closest to making it happen. Dinesh Shamdasani, co-founder of Hivemind, confirmed that the project is now dead.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also played a significant role in the cancellation. As studios tightened their budgets, the negotiations for the series were negatively affected. Shamdasani explained that the pandemic caused studios to become more risk-averse and led to the demise of the ambitious live-action adaptation.
While there may still be hope for future adaptations of video game franchises, with successful shows like “The Last of Us” and the upcoming “Fallout” series on Amazon, Shamdasani remains skeptical about the possibility of a Final Fantasy series. When asked if an animated series could be a viable alternative, he expressed doubts due to the rights reverting back to Japan.
In conclusion, the live-action adaptation of Final Fantasy XIV has been officially cancelled, disappointing fans who were eager to see their favorite characters and locations on the small screen. Despite the setback, it remains to be seen if there will be other opportunities to bring the beloved Final Fantasy franchise to life through different mediums in the future.
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The source of the article is from the blog macholevante.com