The Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is set to be an undertaking of epic proportions, and fans of the classic JRPG have been getting their fill of this modernized version along with its spin-off Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion. A remake of this beloved PS1 title was a long time coming, and now that the remake series is in full swing, it's a great time to capitalize on the franchise's popularity. The next part in the remake trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, has a release window of Winter 2023, but Square Enix could keep the hype train rolling in the meantime by giving this remake series its own companion movie akin to Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children.
With the popularity of the MMO Final Fantasy 14, the upcoming release of Final Fantasy 16, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looming on the horizon, now is Square Enix's chance to dip its toes back into the movie industry. Although it has a history with films in the Final Fantasy franchise, they've tended to earn mixed audience reactions. However, as the hype around the series has been renewed in recent years, a film to help bridge the gaps between parts of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy could end up being quite successful.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy Deserves its Own Movie Tie-in
Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children released in 2005 as a sequel story set 2 years after the events of the original game. The plot follows Cloud as he sets off to stop a group consisting of physical manifestations of Sephiroth's spirit intent on reviving the villain using the remains of Jenova. Although the film received mixed reviews at the time of its release, it is remembered fondly by fans of the franchise and helps to build the greater world of Final Fantasy 7.
A new film for the remake trilogy could help develop its re-imagined world similarly. Given the departures that Final Fantasy 7 Remake's plot and lore take from the original game, the remake trilogy is setting up a new continuity parallel to the classic one fans are familiar with. As such, having a separate movie tied into the games could help to explain much of the lore changes heading into the next two parts of the trilogy.
One aspect a new Final Fantasy 7 movie could delve into is the existence of Whispers and their role in shaping fate within the game's world. It's clear these beings will play an important role in the trilogy given the way Final Fantasy 7 Remake uses Whispers to signify where the plot deviates from the original game. However, their origin is still shrouded in mystery; a film could take place sometime prior to the events of the game and demonstrate why these Whispers exist and how they will play into future entries in the trilogy.
Aside from Advent Children, there is a surprising precedent for Final Fantasy movies that makes a new Final Fantasy 7 Remake movie all the more likely. Prior to Advent Children, there was Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within released in 2001, and Final Fantasy 15 received its own companion movie -- Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy 15 -- to help expand the lore of its world. Although both of these films also had mixed success, that shouldn't stop Square Enix from capitalizing on the revitalized popularity of Final Fantasy 7 and seizing the opportunity to connect the threads of its re-imagined world with a Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy movie.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
