How Final Fantasy Inspired the MCU's Most Underrated Movie of All Time

1 day ago 4

Casandra Ronning is a staff writer for Screen Rant's anime section. Since mid-2024, she has dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. She is most proud of conducting an exclusive interview with popular voice actor Stephanie Nadolny.

Final Fantasy stands out as one of the most iconic game franchises, known for pushing the boundaries of storytelling and gaming animation. With each installment filled with complex characters, imaginative worlds, and cinematic battles, Final Fantasy is easily one of the best JRPGs.

Its influence stretches across pop culture, impacting creators and filmmakers around the world. Among these filmmakers is none other than the talented Nia DaCosta, known for her work on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Candyman, and one of the MCU’s most underrated films, The Marvels.

Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children Inspired The Marvels

Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children is the direct sequel film to the original game, set two years after the conclusion. The film was released in September 2005 and is best known for its groundbreaking CGI animation and intense battle sequences. For Final Fantasy fans around the world, it stood out as a thrilling addition to the franchise.

The film resonated with countless viewers, including Nia DaCosta, who would later go on to become a brilliant director. She shared in an interview that Advent Children helped shape her vision for The Marvels, sharing:

“Advent Children, the Final Fantasy film. It's so good; the fight in the church and also that ending scene where they're throwing Cloud up into the sky, all the characters, so we can fight the big bad. Those were two scenes that I referenced in my pitch, actually.”

The way Advent Children handled its combat scenes, including the weightlessness, dynamic movements, and environment, became the blueprint for DaCosta for certain scenes in The Marvels, allowing the film to stand out in comparison to other MCU films through its unique and unpredictable battle choreography.

Final Fantasy Is Known for Its Iconic Stories and Epic Battles

From Final Fantasy’s earliest installments, the franchise distinguished itself through sprawling storylines and unforgettable characters. Every game delivers a fully realized world with strong, complex characters and narratives that often blend moral dilemmas, personal struggles, and political intrigue.

Final Fantasy’s character and narrative development have always stood out among every entry. By offering heroes who are flawed yet compelling, the franchise consistently created games that came to life and captured gamers’ attention. Paired with the epic scale of many of the franchise’s battles, Final Fantasy repeatedly delivered memorable experiences.

With so many games carrying such powerful direction, it’s easy to see why DaCosta found inspiration in Advent Children. It’s iconic battles, inventive choreography, and thrilling sequences offered vision, which DaCosta took and made her own in The Marvels.