The Tomb Raider franchise got a major lift from a major casting update for the upcoming TV adaptation. It has been reported that Game of Thrones and X-Men alum Sophie Turner is set to star as Lara Croft. The series, led by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, will look to turn the tide for the franchise. With Turner now set to be part of Waller-Bridge’s reboot, this might be the perfect duo to break Lara Croft into the live-action sphere properly.
The Amazon Tomb Raider series will look to change the fortunes of the iconic video game character. There have been multiple attempts to adapt the legendary video game character into live-action through the years, but none have garnered the proper appreciation Lara Croft deserves. Angelina Jolie’s movies from the early 2000s had some financial success but were critically panned, while Alicia Vikander’s 2018 movie received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office.
The 2018 Tomb Raider Movie Was Critically & Commercially Panned
Outside Of Alicia Vikander, There Was Little To Be Positive About
The Alicia Vikander-led 2018 movie saw Lara Croft investigate the mythical Queen of Yamataito, Himiko. On her journey, she comes into contact with a military organization called Trinity. After the journey ends, Lara returns home to collect her inheritance and discovers a dark secret, leading her to her next journey. The film suffered a number of issues, including lackluster supporting characters and a story that fizzled out in the second half.
While critics and fans’ reviews weren’t overwhelmingly negative, the film failed to bring enough money to greenlight a sequel. With a production budget of around $94 million, the film only grossed $58.2 million domestically and ended up shy of $275 million worldwide. The small returns on top of a rights issue axed plans for a sequel with Alicia Vikander. Although it was unfortunate that this reboot did not work out, the next one already shows promise.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Sophie Turner Partnership Can Change Tomb Raider’s Fortunes
This Duo Can Create A Better Story Together
A Lara Croft series led by two British female actors, creatively overloaded with talent, is what Amazon needs. The character has often been a tool used to attain the male gaze. Now, she needs a more authentic story than what she has been given in the past. Waller-Bridge’s writing, with Sophie Turner’s acting skills and experience in blockbuster productions, is just what the Amazon series needs. Whether the series is based directly on the games or they decide to go a more original route, the duo of Turner and Bridge is as incredible and powerful as Lara Croft herself.
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Every Tomb Raider Movie & TV Show, Ranked Worst To Best
Apart from Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, the game franchise has inspired four other captivating television and movie adaptations.
In this era of adapting video games into live-action, it seems to be an advantage to adapt games into shows rather than movies. The Lara Croft series is just one of Amazon’s attempts to adapt a popular video game into a live-action show. The company also created the well-received Fallout series and is currently developing a God of War series. The Tomb Raider franchise has found an excellent tandem in Bridge and Turner to bring Lara Croft to life in a way that fans may appreciate.
Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider franchise is an iconic series of action-adventure games, films, and media centered around the character Lara Croft, a British archaeologist known for her exploration of ancient tombs and perilous environments. The franchise began with the original video game in 1996 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, with Lara Croft becoming one of the most recognizable and influential characters in gaming history. Over the years, Tomb Raider has expanded into multiple video game series, films, comic books, and even theme park attractions, maintaining its relevance through various reboots and adaptations.
- Created by
- Toby Gard
- First TV Show
- Revisioned: Tomb Raider
- Character(s)
- Lara Croft , Richard Croft , Jacqueline Natla , Amanda Evert , Ana , Lu Ren , Terry Sheridan , Manfred Powell , Mathias Vogel , Siva