Lara Croft is headed from the Amazon rain forest to Amazon Studios. TheTomb Raiderfranchise will return in the form of a streaming TV series written and executive-produced byPhoebe Waller-Bridgeaccording to a report fromThe Hollywood Reporter.
According to the report, the video game-based franchise has found a new home at Amazon, and a writer in the form of the in-demand Waller-Bridge, who recently renewed a development deal with the streamer. It is currently unclear if Waller-Bridge will also star. Last year, it was reported thatMGM had allowed theTomb Raiderrights to lapse, setting off a bidding war for the franchise; Amazon apparently won that war, resulting in today’s announcement.Tomb Raideris only the latest project in the works fromFleabagscribe Waller-Bridge at Amazon; yesterday, they announced an adaptation of the supernatural black comedySign Here, and she hasanother, as-yet-unrevealed seriesin the pipeline. She can next be seen raiding tombs alongsideHarrison Fordin this year’s hotly anticipatedIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
TheTomb Raiderseries of video games began in 1996, focusing on British archeologist Lara Croft as she adventured her way through dungeons and death traps. Originally published by Eidos Interactive, and later Square Enix after they acquired Eidos, there have been twelve games in the series, which has sold over 95 million copies worldwide; the most recent,Shadow of the Tomb Raider, was released in 2018. The franchise has also spawned a number of spinoff handheld and mobile games, comic books, action figures, and theme park attractions. It made the jump to the big screen for Paramount in 2001’sLara Croft: Tomb Raider, starringAngelina Jolie; after it became a box office success, a sequel,Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, followed in 2003.
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However, afterThe Cradle of Lifeunderperformed at the box office and Jolie declined to resume the role, the series was eventually rebooted at MGM with 2018’sTomb Raider, starringAlicia Vikander. Vikander and the film’s producers were eager to make a sequel, evensigningMisha Greento direct, but plans fell through, resulting in the rights coming up for grabs. To tideTomb Raiderfans over until the new Amazon series, ananime seriesis scheduled to hit Netflix this year, withHayley Atwellvoicing Lara Croft.
Waller-Bridge will pen and executive produceTomb Raider, with former head of comedy and dramaRyan Andolinaand former head of overall dealsAmanda Greenblatt.
