Shocking Twist in Tomb Raider’s Return – Not What You’re Expecting!

Updated as of 05/15/2024:

During the Amazon Upfront held on Tuesday, May 14th, the platform confirmed the series adaptation of the video game franchise Tomb Raider. As rumored since June 2023, it’s indeed Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) who will be the scriptwriter and executive producer. Prime Video has commissioned a live-action series. An international casting will soon be launched to find the actress who will portray Lara Croft in the series. (End of update)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s career is on the rise, as she believes her recent experience in action films has equipped her with the necessary skills to successfully adapt the video game Tomb Raider for Amazon Prime Video.

The star and creator of Fleabag, after starring alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones in The Dial of Destiny, and contributing to the writing of the latest James Bond film featuring Daniel Craig as 007 in No Time to Die, is embarking on an ambitious project.

She is eager to utilize her newfound skills to bring a well-known heroine to life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Waller-Bridge reconnected with the Tomb Raider universe by diving back into the games. Her undying love for Lara Croft led her to follow her gut when Amazon asked her to contribute to the creation of a series as the film franchise failed to ignite the box office.

“My goodness, I felt like the teenager in me was saying: ‘Do right by her, do Lara justice‘,” she said in an interview with Vanity Fair. “The chance to have a female action character… Having worked on Bond (in No Time to Die in 2021) and having worked as an actress on Indy, I feel like I’ve been gearing up for this.”

In the remainder of the interview, she expands on her thoughts, wondering: “What if I could take the reins of an action franchise, with everything I’ve learned, with a character I love, and also bring back a bit of that 90s vibe? It’s such a wonderful feeling to think that you know what to do” with such a project.

Ultimately, she views Tomb Raider as an opportunity to challenge the repetitive nature of the entertainment industry, which often relies on recycling and the habit of rebooting existing content or intellectual property that already has an established audience.

“I feel like when you’re working in the industry, you have to ride the wave and assert yourself“, she stated. “There’s room to do something really dangerous, and if I can do something dangerous and exciting with Tomb Raider, it’s because I already have an audience who loves Lara and who, I hope, will continue to love her. And that’s a very unusual position. It’s the old Trojan horse“.

Tomb Raider is currently in the early stages of development, and no announcements have been made yet regarding the star, director, or release date. Patience will be key!