THE Tomb raider the franchise got a big boost with a major casting update for the upcoming TV adaptation. It was reported that Game of Thrones and X-Men alumna Sophie Turner will star as Lara Croft. The series, led by Flea bag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge will try to change the direction of the franchise. With Turner now set to be part of the Waller-Bridge reboot, this could be the perfect duo to get Lara Croft into the live-action sphere properly.
The Amazon Tomb raider the series will attempt to change the fortunes of the iconic video game character. There have been several attempts to adapt the legendary video game character into live action over the years, but none have gotten the proper appreciation that Lara Croft deserves. Angelina Jolie’s films from the early 2000s had some financial success but were panned by critics, while Alicia Vikander’s 2018 film received mixed reviews and flopped at the box office.
The 2018 Tomb Raider film was critically and commercially panned
Outside of Alicia Vikander, there was little to be positive about
The 2018 film fronted by Alicia Vikander 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 receive her inheritance and discovers a dark secret, which takes her on her next journey. The film suffered a number of problems, including lackluster supporting characters and a story that fizzled in the second half.
Although reviews from critics and fans were not overwhelmingly negative, the film failed to raise enough money to greenlight a sequel. With a production budget of around $94 million, the film grossed just $58.2 million domestically and ended up grossing $275 million worldwide. The small returns coupled with a rights issue halted plans for a sequel with Alicia Vikander. While it was a shame this reboot didn’t work out, the next one is already showing promise.
The partnership between Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sophie Turner could change the fortunes of Tomb Raider
This duo can create a better story together
A Lara Croft series led by two British actresses, creatively overloaded with talent, is what Amazon needs. The character has often been a tool used to target the male gaze. Now, she needs a more authentic story than what she has been told in the past. Waller-Bridge’s writing, with Sophie Turner’s acting skills and experience in blockbuster productions, is exactly 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 are as incredible and powerful as Lara Croft herself.
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 Precipitation series and is currently developing a God of War series. THE Tomb raider the franchise has found an excellent ensemble in Bridge and Turner to bring Lara Croft to life in a way that fans can appreciate.