Prime Video’s Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Studios is developing a new Tomb Raider series for Prime Video.
  • Fans suggest Hayley Atwell, suggesting she would be a perfect fit for the Lara Croft lead role.
  • The show’s success hinges on the perfect casting of Lara Croft for Prime Video.

As a longtime fan of the Tomb Raider franchise, I wholeheartedly believe that Hayley Atwell is the perfect choice to bring Lara Croft to life in this upcoming Prime Video series. Her acting prowess, combined with her background and experience, make her an ideal fit for the role.


Previously this year, it emerged that Amazon Prime Video is developing a fresh take on the popular Tomb Raider franchise starring Lara Croft. As of now, no formal casting decisions have been made public, but enthusiasts of the initial video games have been expressing their opinions online about who would be ideal for playing the main character in this upcoming series.

If Amazon Studios and Prime Video decide to move ahead with this concept, there’s a strong possibility that this upcoming series could become a major success on their streaming service. Recently, Amazon has enjoyed some successes with shows like Reacher and Fallout. Yet, they are always eager for more hits, and the new Tomb Raider series might just be what they need. However, it’s crucial to find the right actress to play Lara Croft; if not, the show may not resonate as intended.

Who Do Fans Think Should Play Lara Croft?

Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

Supporters have been voicing their opinions on social media platforms, advocating for British actress Hayley Atwell to be cast as Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider series. Many believe this choice would be a fitting one, given Atwell’s stellar performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Agent Carter and her subsequent lead role in the character’s spinoff series. Most recently, Atwell shared the screen with Tom Cruise in the latest Mission: Impossible film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, and she delivered an outstanding performance in that production.

As a devoted fan myself, I can’t help but admire Atwell for fearlessly embracing roles that resonate with us fans. She’s demonstrated time and again her knack for delivering top-notch performances. Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts are well aware of her extraordinary portrayal of one of our cherished superheroes, Captain Britain, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Her performance was so captivating that audiences couldn’t help but clamor for her to become a permanent addition to the MCU.

What’s Going On With The Live-Action Lara Croft Series?

Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

For the Tomb Raider series on Prime Video to stand a good chance, it’s crucial to find an outstanding lead character, specifically someone who embodies Lara Croft perfectly. There was speculation that Phoebe Waller-Bridge might take up the lead role, but it appears she will primarily focus on writing and producing for the series instead. The current buzz indicates that Waller-Bridge may not be playing Lara Croft, and the casting process for this iconic character is now ongoing.

Based on Deadline’s latest report, there are two primary candidates vying for the role. One is Sophie Turner, renowned for her portrayal of Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, and Lucy Boynton, who played Barbie. It seems that these actresses have either already undergone or will soon perform a screen test for the role. Previous speculations suggested Emma Corrin from Deadpool and Wolverine, as well as Mackenzie Davis from Terminator: Dark Fate, could also be in contention. However, Deadline now clarifies that neither of these actresses were ever under consideration for the character of Lara Croft.

In the past, both Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander have embodied the role of Lara Croft in live-action movies, which were appreciated by fans who admired the original Tomb Raider video game series. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that other actors have also portrayed this character; however, they have done so exclusively within various video games, not in live-action adaptations.

Why Is Hayley Atwell the Perfect Actor to Play Lara Croft?

Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

In my gaming world, I’ve come across Hayley Atwell, the talented actress who lent her voice to Lara Croft in the Netflix animated series, “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.” Now, while the show didn’t exactly set the world on fire, it’s generally accepted as just okay, nothing extraordinary. Yet, when it comes to Atwell’s portrayal of Lara Croft, opinions are unanimous – she nailed it! She seems to really get Lara, and has even mentioned her enthusiasm about playing her in live-action. She shared this during an interview with GamesRadar+.

I’d be thrilled beyond words to have more interactions with Lara Croft, or even experience it differently. Given her iconic status and the adoration she commands, such an opportunity would carry a heavy weight of responsibility that I wouldn’t take lightly.

Atwell also added that she:

…”I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with this talented group on this project. Working alongside director Meredith Layne and showrunner Tasha Huo has been a pleasure, and having Netflix involved made it even better. If given the opportunity, I would be thrilled to continue working in some capacity, or perhaps find another way for Lara to remain part of my life.

Hayley Atwell Was Born to Play Lara Croft

Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Can Succeed With One Great Decision

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a thrill at the prospect of Hayley Atwell reprising her role as Lara Croft. Her recent statement suggests she’d jump at the chance to embody this iconic character in live-action again. Speaking of contenders, Sophie Turner and Lucy Boynton would undoubtedly deliver exceptional performances. Given their British backgrounds, they’d undeniably nail the accent required for the role. It’s crucial that Lara Croft remains quintessentially British with an air of sophistication, but there’s just something about Hayley Atwell that makes her the perfect fit for this adventure-seeking archaeologist.

Initially, Atwell possesses the ideal build for portraying Croft. She’s robust, resilient, and has demonstrated her skill in executing action sequences effectively. Lara Croft is an explorer and archaeologist, similar to a female Indiana Jones, who incidentally hails from the United Kingdom and has a distinct socio-economic background. Hayley Atwell would convincingly embody such a role due to her acting talent and previous experience in the industry.

As a gamer, I’d say it like this: Just like Lara, played by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander before, hails from London’s vibrant South, Atwell, being a native of Kensington, shares a similar aristocratic background with the iconic Lara Croft, daughter of Lord Richard Croft, as portrayed in the games. I believe Atwell has the right charm and presence to truly embody this side of the character that her predecessors didn’t quite manage.

The fact that so many fans of the iconic video game franchise have voiced their support for Atwell as a live-action Lara Croft is also interesting. Although she may be a bit older than some of the other actors being considered, fans seem more interested in a version of Lara Croft who’s already established, someone who knows and understands the world she operates in. It’s clear what fans don’t want is yet another Lara Croft origin story. That’s been done enough — it’s time to move forward with the character in live-action.

There is no release date yet for this Prime Video Tomb Raider live-action series.

Read More

2024-11-21 01:35