The next installment of the “Final Fantasy” series, Part 15, will get its own movie released shortly before the game.
SciFi meets Fantasy in the “Kingsglaive” film
In secret, SquareEnix has produced a new film that will be released almost concurrently with the next installment of the series, Final Fantasy XV, in some selected theaters in America. The animated film is titled “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy 15” and features some prominent actors. Two faces (and/or voices) may be familiar to fans from Game of Thrones, as Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) will voice Princess Luna and Sean Bean (Eddard Stark) lends his voice to King Regis. The entire film was shot using motion capture technology – therefore everything on screen is animated.
Fans are already joking in the comments that SquareEnix has spoiled an important part of the plot by giving Jean Bean a role – because he is known to die in almost every role.
A lot is already known about the film’s plot. The magical kingdom of Lucis possesses a powerful crystal that grants the land its power. The “Empire of Niflheim” wants to seize that power. King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force known as the Kingsglaive, which uses the magical power of the crystal to defend the land. However, the Empire is undeterred and captures the King’s son, who is to be married to another princess, Lunafreya from the neighboring kingdom of Tenebrae.
To what extent the film spoils events from Final Fantasy XV or even provides necessary knowledge to fully understand the game is still unclear.
In the past, Square Enix, then still known as Squaresoft, created various films. The standalone film “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” was a milestone in animation but received mixed reviews otherwise. “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children” focused on the beloved 7th installment of the series and continued the story of Cloud and Sephiroth.
Final Fantasy 15 is set to be released on September 30, 2016, while the film “Kingsglaive” is scheduled to premiere in selected theaters on August 19 and will be available on DVD and BluRay in the fall.
