VGC Casting Call: Final Fantasy XIII - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 10 April 2010 / 7,490 Views
Some love it, some hate it. Some make physical threats against hard-working reviewers. Either way, the characters of Final Fantasy XIII are equal parts stock anime characters and unique, colorful creations. This big-budget movie would need some big-budget names to carry it. In an effort to make this as spoiler-free as possible, I've elected not to cast any villains or even divulge the full names of any of the characters.
Fang - Claudia Black
Fang is strong, hostile, and wields her Australian accent with grace and dignity. While a late addition to the team in the game, her presence is immense. Claudia Black first made a splash with her regular role on Sci-Fi Channel's Farscape, but she has recently made the rounds as a successful video game voice actress in games like Uncharted 2, Dragon Age: Origins, and Mass Effect 2. I don't normally look at appearances for this list (that would be one of Stephen's Top Ten lists), but the similarity in voice and appearance is so great I cannot fathom anyone else in this role.
Hope - Liam James
Hope is a child full of consternation. Early on, he witnesses the death of his mother (first 1/2 hour of playtime, people - not a spoiler) and struggles with a grudge he holds for much of the game. Both bright and filled with sorrow, his hubris makes his name beautifully poignant. Liam James has had a recurring role on the TV show Psych and recently ran from the apocalypse in the movie 2012. He's shown some versatility as a young actor and his ripe 14 years make him just right for the part of Hope.
Lightning - Milla Jovovich
Lightning is badass. She wields this crazy-awesome gun-sword-thing, is a trained soldier, and walls off the world in a Machiavellian pursuit of her goals. Yes, I know I used Milla in my Mass Effect casting call, but I'll admit she fits this role much better. I also promise I won't use her again. Milla has proven time and again she is THE female action hero of our generation with roles in The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, and in particular her performance in Ultraviolet. I could see her with pink hair.
Sazh - Eddie Murphy
Just hear me out. Throughout the beginning of this game, Sazh persistently reminded me of Donkey from the Shrek movies. He's following Lightning around, somehow managing to not die, and constantly quipping about their situation. Fortunately he grows out of this role as the game proceeds, but I was still very struck by it. Eddie Murphy plays Donkey in the Shrek films and I cannot imagine anyone else in that role. Eddie has proven himself a legitimate actor in Dream Girls as well, so he has the chops to show Sazh's depth as it's revealed.
Snow - Chris Evans
Snow is a kind-hearted man who's as inclined to speak with his fists as he is to wear his emotions on his sleeve. He appears boldly confident if only to inspire confidence in others, but his love for Serah and his passion for protecting others is persistent and obvious. Chris Evans played essentially this same character as Johnny "The Human Torch" Storm in the Fantastic Four movies. He's also appearing as Captain America in the upcoming eponymous movie, a character just as selfless as Snow. Evans does the confident action hero like Danny DeVito does creepy short guys.
Vanille - Emelie de Ravin
Vanille is young, probably younger than Ravin, but she's also worldly beneath the veneer of innocence and perky ignorance. She's a passionate girl with a heart the size of the outback and an uneven Australian accent. Emelie de Ravin is best known as Claire on the television show Lost. Ravin would bring some maturity to the role and a far less annoying voice. Her character on Lost has spanned the space from pregnant refugee to madwoman, so she can handle every idiosyncrasy of Vanille, and more. Interestingly, the voice actress for Fang is an American using an Australian accent while the voice actress for Vanille really is Australian.
There are the six party members for Final Fantasy XIII. Along with a big cast of extras, villains, and allies, this would be an epic movie on scale with Avatar. How did we do? Agree? Disagree? Any alternate suggestions?
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Are you kidding me?!? Mila is the "action girl of our generation"?!?!? Far from it! How about Kate Beckinsale with her roles in Underworld. She fits that role way better than Mila. Plus she's also a better actress by thousands of miles!
hellz yea for Eddie Murphy!
Hope was totally not the person. That's a kid
I saw Milla coming from a mile away.
i would rather see final fantasy 1 first then maybe final fantasy XIII later since final fantasy 7/crisis core looks amazing in-game so hopefully we'll se something better
milla as lightning lol this made me laugh, I expect to see zombies in the film now
robert pattinson as snow.
a big "NO" to everyone of them.
some japanese actors would have been better, their can do their hairs like the game, americans can't do any anime hairs. they can, but look crap compare to japanese and korean hair style.
chris evans as snow is absolutely perfect. can't imagine anyone else filling that role.
Oh. I thought this would be which VGC members would be casted, and I was hoping my name would be there.
Except for Hope, i like them all y'know, and i would actually watch this movie if it ever really happened lol
No Final Fantasy movie should ever be made again. The first was terrible and the cut scenes in FF13 were terrible. SE should stick to making games.
Its a good compilation but Lightning and Vanille are way off. Milla just comes off as Tomboy to me, not badass. And really Valille is like 16, just because Ravin has an Austrailian accent doesnt mean she fits the bill.
superbeast1370: Yeah, I remember that. Meg Ryan was cast as Tidus from FFX! Awesome.
This list is the most failed one yet.....
Looks pretty accurate on an appearance scale. I don't like the idea of Milla Jovovich though, I just don't really like her as an actor. Eddie Murphy I don't think would really fit well in a film as serious as a Final Fantasy XIII movie, I can't remember the last time he was in a serious film, well unless Sazh actually is a bit of a comedic role... I need to play the game. :(
i think a Justin Bieber Hope is better
nah, this time I liked none of them.
eddie murphy? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Man i was just thinking Eddie murphy would be perfect for Sazh
This one is terrible. None of those people look like the characters
Wow... IMO this is by far the best you made ;-) Good job ;-)
reminds me when OPM used to do an article called "The Dream Cast"
Nice article.
I don't know about Lightning, is Milla Jovovich really the best one that can represent her? hmm.....
@captainHavok
cool great article (y)
@Boutros
don't INSULT the Mad hatter! :-D
Not a bad start, but i think we need to try a bit harder.
@darthdevidem01
Had to draw the line somewhere.
Or the Mad Hatter should do for Vanille :P
lol cool!
I agree with lightning, hope & vanille choices.
I think Snow should be Brad Pitt & Fang should be Angelina Jolie though!
You didn't do one for serah :( ?
GO FFXIII!
I would go with a red hair Dakota Fanning for Vanille.
Eddie Murphy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
