TheTomb Raidershow has received a status update. The live-action franchise, which follows the adventures of archaeologist Lara Croft, is based on the video game series of the same name. After Angelina Jolie played the character in a pair of movies in the early 2000s, the role was taken over by Alicia Vikander for a 2018 reboot, which did not spawn a sequel. In early 2023, it was announced thatFleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge was attached to write and executive produce aTomb RaiderTV showfor Prime Video that would tie in with an upcoming movie.
Varietyrecently spoke with Amazon MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke, who shared a production update onTomb Raider. She said thatWaller-Bridge is “is well into it,“though she did not share any further updates. Salke also explains that they haven’t fully gotten everything they can out of their partnership with the creator, which is rumored to be a $60 million deal, because of various delays including Waller-Bridge going “off to do a movie,” but “we think it’s going to be a huge franchise for us.” Read Salke’s full quote below:
Tomb Raider is really exciting and Phoebe is well into it and working in close partnership with [“Tomb Raider” general manager] Dallas Dickinson and the game producers, and it’s going to be very exciting. But I don’t have any [new updates]… When we look at a long term commitment to a creator like Phoebe — we’re so happy now that we retained her because she’s obsessed with and grew up playing Lara Croft/Tomb Raider. So the fact that she’s the creator and bringing this character to life, we think it’s going to be a huge franchise for us. She went off to do a movie, there are things that happened — if people want to go take an accounting of what deals they were able to get value out of or not, there’s still probably a lot to do there. But I think we’re looking at converting a lot of those deals to a very performance-based model, based on what they accomplish. And that’s been received very well because you’ve got to change with the times.
What This Update Means For Tomb Raider
The Show Is Still In The Works
Although Salke did not share much insight into how far along the new adaptation of theTomb Raidergamesis, her comments do seem to reveal thatthe project remains in active development. However, while Amazon MGM Studios television head Vernon Sanders toldTheWrapthis July that he guessed they would aim to kick off for production in early 2025, this no longer seems like a likely prospect, as Lara Croft has not even been officially cast at this point in pre-production.
[After Indiana Jones,] Waller-Bridge [is] more free to continue work on Tomb Raider.
The movie that delayed the process of their deal, which was inked in 2019 and renewed in 2022, is likely2023’sIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. That movie, which was shot from mid-2021 through early 2022 and had a press tour in 2023, likely took up much of Waller-Bridge’s time. However, it was a major disappointment at the box office, grossing $384 million against a budget that was estimated to be between $295 and $387 million. This meansit is unlikely that it will get an immediate sequel, leaving Waller-Bridge more free to continue work onTomb Raider.
Our Take On This Tomb Raider Update
Lara Croft’s Iconic Franchise Is Still Safe
Even though it will likely still be some time before theTomb Raidershow hits screens, Salke’s comments seem to reveal thatAmazon MGM Studios is still all-in on their planned interconnected universeadapting the property, which also includes a new Crystal Dynamics video game expanding the franchise. Because there still are no key creatives that have been attached to the movie project, it seems likely that the show will kick off the new universe when it does premiere.
Tomb Raider
TheTomb Raiderfranchise 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 Raiderhas expanded into multiple video game series, films, comic books, and even theme park attractions, maintaining its relevance through various reboots and adaptations.
