This is a trailer for a fan-film based on Final Fantasy VI. It looks fantastic. And it will probably never be made.
That may sound overly cynical, but history has not treated these sort of projects well. Just a month ago, a team of film-makers launched a Kickstarter for their Final Fantasy VII fan-film, and Square Enixās lawyers promptly shut them down for violating copyright. The folks behind that fan-film tried to get permission from Square to make it happen, but they never quite could.
So the same thing may very well happen here. These guys also plan to try to get the rights from Square Enix, then launch their own Kickstarter campaign to make a full film based on the above trailer. (Which looks spectacular. Seriously: watch it. Those special effects.)
Ben Pohl, who runs the production company putting this together, says theyāre hoping to make it happen, no matter how unlikely it may be. He says he wonāt make the same mistake as the FFVI folks and launch a Kickstarter without Square Enixās permission. But heās also not going to give up very easily.
āGetting their blessing is a Hail Mary, I know,ā Pohl said. āBut Iām too ambitious not to try. And besides, making the trailer was an amazing experience.ā
āSo what happens if you donāt get their blessing?ā I asked.
āThatās a great question. Iām honestly not sure. We could continue to go it alone and invest in it ourselves, like we did the trailer. But we finished that yesterday and Iām still decompressing from that experience,ā Pohl said. āIf there was a way to do it both cheap and good, then maybe. Ideally, the trailer would show Square Enix that we can be trusted to make a quality, high-concept production. That the high-end visuals that FFVI deserves are within our reach.
āIf all that ever happens is this trailer, then Iām happy. This was an absolute hoot to make. From the amazing costume designer, to the professional actors, I had the time of my life.ā
