Dream Cast: Final Fantasy VII - Part I

Final Fantasy VII has been, and probably always will be, my favorite game of all time. Even during my latent film geek period, I was obsessed with casting it as a live action adaptation. Casting is, a sort of mental game for myself, and to ratchet up the difficulty, I decided to cast the film as it should have been made in the year 2000. All the chosen actors' ages would, of course, be relative to that time frame. My disclaimer/explanation is that I'm casting for the good of the film as a whole, and trying to find a balance amongst a variety of variables such as age, height, build, look, compatibility with other choices, and of course, the ability to actually act. That said, if you have a problem with a choice I've made, I welcome any challenges, but you'd better be able to back up an alternate with an equal amount of thought (if you can change my mind, I'll credit you for it and update the roster!). On one last note, this cast is based off the look and feel of the characters as seen in Final Fantasy VII, ignoring all incarnations following (Crisis Core, Kingdom Hearts, Advent Children, etc.) So without further delay:

Cloud Strife - James McAvoy


The Pick: James McAvoy is my ideal choice for Cloud. Not only is JM one of my favorite actors, but he has the chops to pull off the complexity of a character like Cloud while adding depth to the role beyond what was seen in the game. Cloud's look is mostly iconic due to his hair and his weaponry, and so considering that JM is exactly the same height, and almost the perfect build (wiry and muscular), I'd say his otherwise loose resemblance to the anime stylings of Cloud should be excused.

The Stats: Cloud - 5ft. 7in. 21 years old. James - 5ft. 7in. 21 years old in 2000. Height Match: Exact; Age Match: Exact.

The Proof: If you want to see a twenty-something JM in action, pick up a copy of the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries Children of Dune. The acting quality is wildly inconsistent all across the board of characters, but anytime JM is on screen, he's electric. The finest scenes? Try when Leto meets his sister Ghanima again after his "death," and his return to claim the throne from Alia. He's pretty much amazing. As an added bonus, we get to see him with spice melange saturated blue on blue eyes of the desert Fremen... which is only a few shades off from mako infused turquoise eyes when you really think about it.

Aeris Gainsborough - Rose Byrne


The Pick: I think that out of all my casting choices, Rose Byrne will prove to be my most controversial. Not because people have strong opinions about her, but rather that people love Aeris to death (no pun intended). I've considered and discared more actresses for this role than I care to count, notable selections including Mena Suvari, Katheryn Winnick, and Alexis Bledel. Most of them had one quality of Aeris: the look, the height, the age, the personality, the aura... but none of them were even close to having all of them. Sadly, casting Aeris has been an exercise in painful compromise, and as of yet, Rose Byrne is the closest I've come to filling Aeris' admittedly ridiculous boots.

The Stats: Aeris - 5ft. 3in. 22 years old. Rose - 5ft. 6in. 22 years old in 2001. Height Match: +3in; Age Match: +1 year.

The Proof: Talks of compromise aside, I feel that the most important aspect of portraying Aeris must undoubtedly be the actress' ability to evoke compassion and empathy. She'll have to bear the weight of the most famous character death in all of gaming history on her shoulders, and if the actress can't sell that scene, then it's game over from the start. I've seen RB's work in Sunshine, and the one thing I took from her acting was that she could sell it, and I would believe it. So far, no other actress comes close, though I am open to suggestion.

Tifa Lockheart - Rachel Leigh Cook


The Pick: Rachel Leigh Cook essentially looks as if the Tifa character was actually modeled on her appearance. A pretty spectacular visual match, considering the exaggerated anime features. Beyond that, though, RLC has both the personality and the ability to portray a live action Tifa. RLC can be sweet, cheerful, and charming while still exuding the inner strength of a fighter, and that's perfect for Tifa.

The Stats: Tifa - 5ft. 4in. 20 years old. Rachel - 5ft. 2in. 21 years old in 2000. Height Match: -2in.; Age Match: +1 year.

The Proof: Most any of the teen movies she's been in showcases the essential girl-next-door qualities that RLC possesses. If you want guilty pleasures, try "She's All That" or "Josie and the Pussycats." Hardcore fans will note that she already provides the voice for Tifa in both Advent Children and Kingdom Hearts. For what it's worth, I called this one long before either title was released.

Barret Wallace - Laurence Fishburne


The Pick: Let's face it, Barret in the game is essentially Mr. T from the A-Team with a gun-arm. Yes, he's a brawler with a heart of gold, but he's hardly what you'd call a deep character. Sadly, in the transition to live action, some of the cornier aspects of the game will have to be toned down, if not altered entirely. The only way I can see the film being taken seriously, is to focus on Barret's desire to protect the planet while keeping Marlene safe. His humor should be limited to the ongoing banter between him and Cloud. The only actor I see that can give Barret the necessary emotional weight? Laurence Fishburne. Barret is supposed to be the leader of AVALANCHE when Cloud meets him. Let's make sure this Barret actually feels like someone that people would follow into battle.

The Stats: Barret - 6ft. 4in. 35 years old. Laurence - 6ft. 0in. 39 years old in 2000. Height Match: -4in.; Age Match: +4 years.

The Proof: LF has been in some amazing films where he really carries his role with strength. Check out "Boys n the Hood" or his bit part in "MI:3" and you'll see what I mean.