Amazon’s Tomb Raider TV Series with Sophie Turner Is Officially Dead

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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 was originally going to portray Lara Croft in Amazon’s upcoming Tomb Raider production. Unfortunately, it appears that this project has been permanently postponed.

The Tomb Raider series, a well-known action-adventure franchise revolving around Lara Croft, a renowned video game character, has had several adaptations on the big screen. Actress Angelina Jolie starred in two films based on the series – “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001) and its sequel “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life” (2003). More recently, Alicia Vikander took on the role in a 2018 reboot directed by Roar Uthaug. Interestingly, Amazon MGM Studios announced plans for a new Tomb Raider television series in January 2023, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge set to write and produce, and Saoirse Ronan rumored to play the lead role. However, there are whispers that this TV adaptation may not materialize.

Two years have passed since Amazon first announced its plans for a Tomb Raider TV series, yet there appears to be minimal progress made on the project. Sources close to the Daily Mail claim that it is effectively “dead.” Despite reports last year suggesting filming would commence early in 2021 and Sophie Turner being involved, recent updates indicate otherwise. It seems that Turner has other commitments at present. A source also hinted that the TV series may have been canceled. The Daily Mail further mentioned that Jennifer Salke, who initially greenlit the Tomb Raider series for Amazon Studios, is no longer with the company. Salke had played a significant role in securing Phoebe Waller-Bridge for an estimated $20 million deal to work on the project, shortly after her success with Fleabag.

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

In 2023, it was revealed that Amazon partnered with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment for the rights to Tomb Raider, according to sources speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. Besides a TV series, they also planned to develop another game from the Lara Croft series, aiming to create a unified Tomb Raider universe encompassing video games, movies, and television shows – similar to Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). An insider reported that Amazon’s strategy for the Tomb Raider franchise was their most significant undertaking after The Lord of the Rings, although both Amazon and Johnson’s representatives declined to confirm this at the time.

Based on the latest news, it seems Amazon could be reconsidering its initial plans for the Tomb Raider project. But remember, this isn’t definitive yet, so keep a bit of skepticism in mind. Many fans have been eagerly awaiting a contemporary portrayal of Lara Croft, and some might feel disappointed if these reports aren’t true. Instead of films with limited runtime, a live-action TV series could offer Lara more screen time, allowing for a deeper exploration of her stories. This is a fresh approach compared to the previous projects which were primarily feature films running close to two hours each.

If it turns out that the cancellation did occur, it wasn’t entirely unexpected given the current trends among streaming services. With budget constraints and shifting priorities leading to project cancellations across many platforms, it was possible that Tomb Raider could meet a similar fate. Nevertheless, regardless of the outcome for the Tomb Raider TV series, Lara Croft is well-known and poised to reappear in some shape or form.

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2025-04-12 17:15