Netflix’s latest animated adaptation, Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, could be the first of many explorations of Lara Croft’s story. Based on the video game franchise, the story follows Hayley Atwell’s Lara as she searches for historical artifacts. Along the way, she encounters a new enemy, who attempts to steal her discoveries for himself. Lara Croft has already become a critical success for Netflix, having earned the highest Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score in franchise history with a 67% mark.
Having secured a positive response, the franchise is expecting a follow-up for season 2. Hayley Atwell is certainly interested in more. In an interview with Total Film, Atwell explained that she would love to return to reprise her role. The actor is happy to appear in season 2 or a spin-off of some sort. She had much to say about her interest in the character and the franchise:
To continue to be involved
or to be involved in another way
with [Lara Croft] would be an absolute dream and also a responsibility I would take seriously given how beloved and known she is…She’s always up to date and that’s exciting to me. I just had an absolute blast doing this with this creative team. I’ve loved working with [director Meredith Layne] and [showrunner Tasha Huo] on this, and having Netflix behind it. It feels like an elevated animation [and] that they really want[ed] to get it right emotionally.
I would be completely honored to carry on in some way
, or to have Lara in my life in a different capacity, for sure.
Atwell Would Sign On To A Spin-Off
The Tomb Raider show’s ending sets up a sequel season, so it is no surprise that Atwell is alluding to that reality. The idea of appearing as Lara in “another capacity” is an especially interesting comment. After all, previous iterations of the franchise proved to fail for critics and audiences. The TV show has the second-highest audience score rating for the franchise, while maintaining the highest Tomatometer score by 15 points. The chart below showcases the sharp differences between the show and previous critical scores:
|
Title |
Tomatometer Score |
Popcornmeter (Audience) Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) |
20% |
47% |
|
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life (2003) |
24% |
44% |
|
Tomb Raider (2018) |
52% |
55% |
|
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft |
67% |
51% |
A return to the big screen would likely end with a similarly-maligned depiction. The animated serialized show captures the focus of the games, while setting the stage for a large and expansive storyline. Having ample time to showcase Lara’s adventures is part of the success, as is the animated style. Shifting away would simply fail to capture the same notes that made it a surprising success. There could be animated spin-offs, but it would not make much sense to spin-off, rather than to simply feature another season.
Our Take On Hayley Atwell Returning To Tomb Raider
It Would Be Exciting To See Atwell Return
A follow-up season is likely the best way for Atwell to return to the character. Because the show takes place during a point in the Tomb Raider timeline that has not been fully explored, it leaves ample room for future narratives. The show could easily run for numerous seasons without stumbling, if it can retain its audience. With a low audience score, failing to recapture the attention of viewers is not out of the realm of possibility. Atwell could easily return to Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, but other adaptations are unlikely.
Source: Total Film