Amazon's Tomb Raider Project Starring Sophie Turner Is Dead

Summary

Sophie Turner was set to play Lara Croft in Amazon's Tomb Raider, but the project is rumored to be canceled.
Amazon has made almost no progress on Tomb Raider two years after its announcement.
Fans might be disappointed with the news since a TV series could provide more coverage than films.

Sophie Turner is set to play Lara Croft in Amazon's upcoming Tomb Raider. However, the project has reportedly been shelved for good.

Tomb Raider is a popular action-adventure franchise centered around Lara Croft, an iconic game character. Angelina Jolie starred in two films — Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003). Alicia Vikander also portrayed the character in a Tomb Raider reboot directed by Roar Uthaug, which was released in 2018. In January 2023, Amazon MGM Studios announced a new Tomb Raider television series. The project is to be written and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for Fleabag, and Turner was set to take the lead role. However, there are rumors that Amazon's Tomb Raider is not going to see the light of day.

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By Edward James Lauder

It has been two years since Amazon announced the Tomb Raider TV series. However, there has been almost no progress in its development. Unnamed sources told the Daily Mail that the project was "dead." Last year, Amazon Prime Video's executive reportedly promised that filming would begin early this year, with Sophie Turner rumored to be on board. However, that seems not to be the case. Additionally, the Game of Thrones star is reportedly busy with other projects. An unnamed insider claimed that they heard the TV series was canceled. The outlet added that Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios who greenlit the Tomb Raider series, is no longer at the company. Salke was the one who signed Waller-Bridge for a $20 million deal to seal the project. The agreement happened shortly after Waller-Bridger's success with Fleabag.

Amazon Wanted To Create A Tomb Raider Cinematic Universe, But It Seems To Have Gone By The Wayside

When the project was announced in 2023, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Amazon teamed up with Dmitri M. Johnson's dj2 Entertainment for the Tomb Raider rights. Aside from the TV show, another video game from the Lara Croft franchise was planned to be developed. The goal was reportedly to build a connected world of Tomb Raider — video game, films, and television series. Essentially, they want to achieve what Marvel Studios did with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). One insider claimed that Amazon's plan for the Tomb Raider franchise was their biggest commitment after Lord of the Rings. However, at the time, Amazon and Johnson's representatives declined to comment.

Considering the recent report, it appears Amazon may have had a change of heart about its plan for Tomb Raider. However, one still needs to take the report with a grain of salt because it hasn't been confirmed yet. Some fans might be disappointed because they have been waiting for a modern take on Lara Croft. Also, a live-action TV series is a new take on the character, giving her more time so they can cover more stories about the character. The previous projects were films with a limited screen time of nearly two hours. A television series would give Lara a longer running time.

However, if it's true, the cancellation is not a complete surprise. Considering how streaming services have been cutting projects due to budget constraints and shifts in priorities, it's not unlikely for Tomb Raider to face the chopping block. Regardless of the fate of the Tomb Raider TV series, Lara Croft is a recognizable character and will likely make her return in some form or another.