Summary
- Alicia Vikander's Lara Croft was cut short after a promising start in the 2018 Tomb Raider reboot.
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Amazon series brings hope for a new Lara Croft, casting a fresh light on the iconic character.
- The loss of Vikander's portrayal is regrettable, but the potential for new writers to bring depth to the franchise is exciting.
Since her first appearance as the gun-toting, braid-wearing avatar in the 1996 Sega Saturn game, Lara Croft has become an instantly recognizable character and a sexy Halloween costume staple. The 2018 revival sparked hopes that a new series of films could finally do the iconic franchise justice, becoming a box-office hit despite a mixed critical response. The Amazon series presents another new hope for Tomb Raider – but, as a long-term fan of the series, I'll still regret the loss of what Vikander could have made of the role.
Every Tomb Raider Video Game, Ranked Worst to Best
The Tomb Raider franchise has climbed to more dizzying heights and had more terrifying drops than Lara herself. Chart that path with our ranked list.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider Show Will Cast A New Lara Croft
Alicia Vikander's Croft Won't Be Returning To Screens
The Amazon series is still yet to cast its title character, though there is a wealth of actresses who would be suited to playing Lara Croft. The search will be global, meaning that the list need not be limited to British actresses. A canon-typical Croft is stunningly beautiful (even when facing the rigors of a jungle or narrowly escaping a booby trap) with an athlete’s physique. The new series is unlikely to depart from the norm in this regard. Waller-Bridge’s creative freedom lies more in the tone she decides to take.
2018's Tomb Raider took a gritty approach that felt like a significant tonal shift from the Jolie films. Alicia Vikander portrayed a Lara Croft who was perhaps softer than the stoic heroine audiences are used to, but this was a key element in the film which explored the character's origin story. Vikander was able to carry the film's emotional undercurrent while still allowing glimpses of the tough, battle-hardened adventurer fans know and love. Unfortunately, Vikander's stint as the Tomb Raider was cut short before we were given the chance to see this arc play out in full.
Why Alicia Vikander’s Tomb Raider 2 Didn’t Happen
MGM Dropped The Ball While The Film Was Still Being Written
Few critics thought that Tomb Raider's 2018 reboot lived up to its hype. Many found the second half of the film particularly lacking in substance, trading a developed storyline for game-play reminiscent action sequences. However, I and other viewers nostalgic for the classic PlayStation game felt that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Vikander's portrayal of Croft carried the blockbuster enough to get it green-lit for a sequel, which would have provided an opportunity to iron out the kinks from the first movie. Unfortunately, this wasn't to be.
Green’s sequel could have been a refreshing turn for the franchise, allowing its heroine the depth she is so rarely afforded.
The much anticipated Tomb Raider 2 was canceled when MGM lost its rights to the title after failing to greenlight the movie in time. At this point, the project was already in development, with Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green onboard as writer and director. Green is an accomplished writer, and I would have loved to see a woman at the helm: the first film was written by newcomer Geneva Robertson-Dworet but was directed by Roar Uthaug. Green’s sequel could have been a refreshing turn for the franchise, allowing its heroine the depth she is so rarely afforded.
I’ll Miss Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft After A Promising First Movie
Another Reboot, However Exciting, Feels Unnecessary
The 2018 Tomb Raider focused too much attention on Lara's male counterparts, preventing Vikander from truly shining in her starring role. It bodes well that the Amazon series will be led by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who cut her teeth writing Fleabag's complex female heroine. This could be exactly what the franchise needs - but with the loss of an already great Lara Croft, I can’t help but feel deflated. Vikander deserved the chance to work with great writers like Waller-Bridge and Green.
When a female-led adaptation misses the mark, the actors bear the brunt of the criticism.
In fact, I can't help but wonder whether yet another Tomb Raider reboot is necessary. No attempt to bring the franchise to the big screen has been a resounding success. Jolie's casting rescued the otherwise forgettable noughties adaptation. After 2023's underwhelming Indiana Jones reboot made a massive loss at the box office, it's clear that nostalgia for an iconic character only carries a revival so far. The archeology action flick is a concept that has been well exploited; its romanticization of cultural looting has always been problematic. Perhaps it is time to leave the genre in the dust.
For now, we can hope that the Amazon revival is safe in capable hands. I hope Waller-Bridge's Tomb Raider lives up to the hype, for the sake of its writer and the Lara Croft to-be. When a female-led adaptation misses the mark, the actors bear the brunt of the criticism. Alicia Vikander is a great actress saddled with a lackluster reboot. If only Tomb Raider 2 had made it into production, we could have seen her truly make the role her own.
Tomb Raider
- Release Date
- March 16, 2018
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Director
- Roar Uthaug
Cast
Alicia Vikander
Dominic West
WHERE TO WATCH
Tomb Raider features Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, a young woman who embarks on a perilous journey to her father's last-known destination, a mysterious island. The film, directed by Roar Uthaug, presents Lara's transformation from an independent, adventurous spirit into a resilient, skilled adventurer, determined to uncover the secrets of her father's disappearance while tackling treacherous adversaries and ancient puzzles.
- Writers
- Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Alastair Siddons, Evan Daugherty
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