Final Fantasy movie budget disclosed

[01.27.01] » Square reveals exactly how big of a gamble they're taking with The Spirits Within.

   It's been common knowledge for some time that Square is sparing no expense in the production of their first feature film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Now, the company has detailed exactly how much all that CGI has set them back.

   The total production budget, which does not include the marketing costs to be handled by Columbia Pictures, comes to a hefty $137 million. While the figure may seem large, it's less than three times the largest reported budget for Final Fantasy VII, and considerably less than the initial rumors which placed the cost around $200 million. Square's big-budget gambles have certainly paid off in the past, but we'll have to wait until the film's release on July 13 to see if their success in the console arena repeats on the big screen.