Whether it should stay an animated property or not, there’s something inherently amusing about fan-casting a live-action Final Fantasy 7 movie. While some characters seem near-impossible to replicate in live-action form, there are some performers out there with the acting chops to pull off a convincing Final Fantasy 7 adaptation. In fact, fan-casts for the Square Enix game stretch back to when it was first released in 1997. Not only is FF7 one of the greatest RPGs of all time, but one of the best video games of all time — in large part thanks to its compelling story, characters, and world-building.
The game centers on Cloud Strife, a mercenary who’s hired by the eco-terrorist group Avalanche to attack an all-controlling mega-corporation. That company, Shin-Ra, harvests the planet’s life essence and turns it into an energy source, but the company’s armed squadrons make opposing them difficult. To make matters worse, Shin-Ra’s most elite warriors, or SOLDIERS, are “enhanced” with that very essence. Before the events of the game, Cloud was a SOLDIER who served with the Shin-Ra’s greatest warrior: Sephiroth. Adapting Final Fantasy 7 would be tricky, although the best video game adaptations, such as Castlevania and The Super Mario Bros. movie, show that it is possible.
18 Cody Christian As Cloud Strife
In 2020, Square Enix released the long-awaited, fully voice-acted Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which changes the original story beats while remaining mostly true to the first chunk of the game. In FF7 Remake, Cody Christian voices protagonist Cloud Strife. Known for live-action roles in big hits like Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf, and All American, Christian earned a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance as Cloud. Given the enduring appeal of Final Fantasy 7, voicing a character as iconic as Cloud was a tall order, but Christian proved himself worthy of the Buster Sword, and he certainly has the right tough-but-tender blend to portray Cloud in a live-action video game movie.
17 Briana White As Aerith Gainsborough
A florist who lives in the slums of the Shin-Ra-controlled Midgar, Aerith Gainsborough (Briana White, FF7 Remake) has a chance meeting with Cloud that changes the trajectory of their lives. Over the years, various voice actors have lent their talents to bringing Aerith to life, from Mandy Moore (Kingdom Hearts) to Mena Suvari (Kingdom Hearts 2; Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children). However, White brings the most personality to Aerith, capturing the character’s bubbly facade as well as her more pensive side, which was shaped by both a difficult childhood and the weight of her looming destiny.
16 Natasha Liu Bordizzo As Tifa Lockhart
While GLOW‘s Britt Baron voices barkeep-turned-rebel Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Natasha Liu Bordizzo would be the perfect casting choice for a live-action portrayal of the beloved character. Fresh off playing Sabine Wren in Ahsoka, the Star Wars actor knows just how much pressure there is to bring a fan-favorite animated character to life. As demonstrated in Ahsoka, Bordizzo has the right blend of wry humor, compassion, and tough-as-nails demeanor to do Tifa justice.
15 Cody Fern As Sephiroth
Best known for his roles in the FX anthology series American Horror Story, Cody Fern has proven to be a versatile actor. However, one of his breakthrough AHS roles in the season’s Apocalypse chapter proves he can capture Sephiroth’s unique role. In American Horror Story: Apocalypse, Fern plays the antichrist, Michael Langdon. Like Sephiroth, Michael is charismatic yet calculated — a selfish tactician who excels at delivering chilling monologs. Plus, Fern can clearly rock Sephiroth’s long locks.
14 Winston Duke As Barret Wallace
Winston Duke had a breakthrough moment as M’Baku in 2018’s Black Panther. Since then, the MCU star has gone on to star in Jordan Peele’s horror film Us as well as the audio drama Batman Unburied, in which he voices Bruce Wayne/Batman. There’s no doubt that Duke has the physical presence, charisma, and passion to bring Avalanche’s leader Barret Wallace to life.
13 Max Mittelman As The Voice Of Red XIII
In Final Fantasy 7, Cloud and co. break Red XIII out of Shin-Ra’s labs while rescuing Aerith. The subject of experimentation, Red XIII is a talking feline-like creature who joins Cloud’s group en route to his homeland in Cosmo Canyon. However, after finding his courage, Red XII, also called Nanaki, resolves to help the group save the planet. In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Max Mittelman voices Red XIII and gives a solid performance, making him the obvious choice for the character in other iterations too.
12 LaKeith Stanfield As Vincent Valentine
While Vincent Valentine doesn’t appear in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, he’s set to join the second game in the trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. In the world of FF7, the Turks are covert Shin-Ra operatives. Once part of their ranks, Vincent was assigned to guard the scientist, Lucrecia. After falling for her, he becomes the subject of the unhinged Professor Hojo’s experiments. Determined to seek revenge on Hojo, the brooding Vincent joins Cloud’s team. LaKeith Stanfield’s movie and TV shows prove he has the range to play Vincent at every stage, as evidenced by his roles in genre-spanning projects like The Changeling, Atlanta, Get Out, and Sorry to Bother You.
11 Colman Domingo As Cid Highwind
Colman Domingo hasn’t been given the opportunity to play a role like that of Cid Highwind, but, given his eclectic filmography, Domingo definitely has the chops. A tough-talking, warm-hearted airship pilot, Cid is also a bit of a dreamer. With roles in everything from Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to Candyman to Fear the Walking Dead to the 2023 biopic Rustin, Domingo can pull off just about anything. Plus, his stint in Euphoria proved he can deliver one heck of a monologue, which is a must for a character like Cid.
10 David Tennant As The Voice Of Cait Sith
Cait Sith is one of Final Fantasy 7‘s stranger characters: a cat riding a giant stuffed toy moogle, Cait Sith is controlled remotely by the Shin-Ra employee Reeve Tuesti. With a megaphone in the paw, Cait Sith is always shouting ridiculous things in battle. For a time, he served as a fortune-teller in Gold Saucer, FF7‘s version of Las Vegas. Needless to say, the character needs an actor who can balance comedy with a signature unhingedness, and David Tennant (Good Omens) seems like the perfect fit.
9 Karen Fukuhara As Yuffie Kisaragi
A young ninja-princess-turned-thief, Yuffie is a fan-favorite character who’s obsessed with Materia — the game’s magic-imbuing items. In the wake of Avalanche’s bombing, Yuffie appears in the post-Final Fantasy 7 Remake chapter Intermission. Failing her mission, Yuffie resolves to find a team to help her in her own schemes. Yuffie is a clever, determined character who initially double-crosses Cloud’s group. In terms of live-action roles, Karen Fukuhara is best known for portraying Kimiko in The Boys, though her voice work in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts proves she’d be the perfect Yuffie.
8 Will Sharpe As Reno
Known more as a director than an actor, Will Sharpe has proven he has a knack for both comedy and drama in projects like Black Pond, Flowers, and Landscapers. More recently, he had a breakthrough acting moment in season 2 of HBO’s satirical drama The White Lotus. The Emmy-nominated actor definitely has the chops to portray Reno, the Turks’ most arrogant (and often goofy) agent.
7 Ricky Whittle As Rude
If Reno’s around then Rude is likely nearby. The Turks’ most stoic member, he rarely speaks, favoring his fists over words. Even so, he’s involved in some of Final Fantasy 7‘s more comic exchanges — alongside Reno, of course. Known for his starring turns in American Gods and The 100, Ricky Whittle has the no-nonsense physicality (and also the aptitude for surprising moments of humor) to portray a pitch-perfect Rude.
6 Rinko Kikuchi As Elena
The newest member of the Turks, Elena lacks experience but makes up for that in spades with her dedication to the job. Compared to Reno and Rude, she’s basically the Turks’ employee of the month. In 2006, Rinko Kikuchi became the first Japanese woman actor to be nominated for an Academy Award in 50 years for Babel. More recently, she’s starred in acclaimed series like Westworld and Tokyo Vice as well as the sci-fi blockbuster franchise Pacific Rim. Needless to say, Kikuchi can sell Elena’s committed persona.
5 Masanobu Ando As Tseng
Being the head of the Turks is how Final Fantasy 7‘s Tseng connects to Cloud and Zack (and the rest of the game’s characters). A mysterious supporting antagonist, Tseng always seems to be lurking in the shadows — not always an active participant in what’s happening, but certainly a crucial observer. While Masanobu Ando hasn’t quite made the jump from Japanese cinema to Hollywood, he’s known worldwide for his role as a psychopathic killer in Kinji Fukusaku’s 2000 blockbuster Battle Royale. That said, Ando could perfectly capture Tseng’s ever-present role.
4 Tyler Hoechlin As Zack Fair
A member of SOLDIER First Class who worked alongside Sephiroth prior to the events of Final Fantasy 7, Zack Fair was a young Cloud Strife’s best friend and mentor. Without delving into too many spoilers, Zack and Cloud have a very interconnected past, so the character certainly has an air of mystery to him. At the same time, he’s a committed partner to his girlfriend, Aerith, and an incredibly upbeat do-gooder. Teen Wolf actor Tyler Hoechlin, who’s also known for being TV’s Clark Kent/Superman, has the right balance of cheerful grit to play Zack. Plus, it’s a fun role reversal since Hoechlin actually voices Sephiroth in FF7 Remake.
3 Mark Hamill As President Shinra
The head of the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company, President Shinra is perhaps best defined by one of his more memorable quotes: “Truth…justice, honor, freedom! Vain indulgences, every one.” The ultimate greedy capitalist, Shinra is Final Fantasy 7‘s version of Succession‘s Logan Roy. However, instead of type-casting Brian Cox, it feels like Mark Hamill would make an excellent President Shinra. For fans of Star Wars, the villainous turn may seem unexpected, but Hamill is also lauded for his voice-over portrayal of Batman‘s Joker, which means he can play sinister very well.
2 Hayden Christensen As Rufus Shinra
In the Star Wars universe, Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker is the father of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, but Final Fantasy 7‘s cast of characters presents a unique opportunity for a fun role reversal. In a live-action Final Fantasy 7 movie, Christensen would be a great pick for Rufus Shinra, the president’s son and heir. Throughout the FF7 franchise, Rufus is an entitled, manipulative villain — something Christensen proved he was capable of in Shattered Glass. Plus, Rufus’ “I’ll control the world with fear” line sounds a lot like a certain Sith Lord.
1 Keanu Reeves As Professor Hojo
Professor Hojo is the one responsible for experimenting on Red XIII and Vincent Valentine, and, as it turns out, creating Sephiroth. The head of research at Shin-Ra, Hojo is the mastermind behind SOLDIER and the company’s other more sinister projects. For John Wick and The Matrix movie star Keanu Reeves, playing Hojo would be against type. Even so, the action star has proved he has a knack for unhinged, villainous characters in films like The Bad Batch and The Neon Demon, making him a stellar addition to a live-action Final Fantasy 7 movie’s cast.
