Spencer Baculi | May 14, 2024
Lara Croft (Judith Gibbons) takes aim at Tony (Peter Kelamis) in in Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft Remastered (2023), Crystal Dynamics / Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) dismisses Indy's (Harrison Ford) adventuring advice in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Lucasfilm
As if the recent attempts by current developer Crystal Dynamics to both censor the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection and distance the franchise from its “colonialist” origins hadn’t already left fans utterly exhausted with the franchise’s handling, Amazon has officially placed a series order for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s previously-announced-as-in-development, live-action Tomb Raider treatment.
Lara Croft gets her next lead on Ms. Natla in Tomb Raider Remastered (2023), Crystal Dynamics
Word of series protagonist Lara Croft’s return to live-action was officially confirmed by Head of Amazon MGM Studios Jennifer Salke during the company’s first official upfront presentation – a type of event wherein a given studio will show off their upcoming productions to major advertising entities in the hopes of selling ad spots – as held on May 14th.
Taking the stage to reveal the news, Salke further detailed that not only was the series, as previously rumored, set to be penned and executive produced by the aforementioned Waller-Bridge, but that it would also center specifically on long-time franchise protagonist Lara Croft rather than any side or original character.
Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) scrambles to convince Indy (Harrison Ford) to return to the present in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Lucasfilm
Later speaking to Amazon for an official press release regarding the series’ green-lighting, Salke asserted, “I’m so happy to announce that we have ordered the epic, globetrotting series Tomb Raider from the incredibly gifted Emmy-award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge and the team at Crystal Dynamics. Fans and newcomers can look forward to exhilarating adventures that honor the legacy of this iconic character.”
Likewise, when asked for her thoughts on the series’ green-lighting for an official Amazon press release, Waller-Bridge excitedly asserted, “If I could tell my teenage self this was happening I think she’d explode.”
“Tomb Raider has been a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly privileged to be bringing it to television with such passionate collaborators,” she added. “Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”
Lara Croft raids a tomb via Card #1501, Magic: The Gathering – Secret Lair Drop (2023), Wizards of the Coast. Art by Greg Staples.
Waller-Bridge’s attachment to a live-action Tomb Raider series was first rumored in February 2023, courtesy of a report penned by Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva based on information relayed to her by supposed insider sources.
Four months later, Waller-Bridge would not only confirm to IGN that she was involved in the project, but also provide the first details on her approach to adapting the beloved IP.
“There’s so much I can incorporate,” she told the video game news outlet. “I mean, the character of Lara Croft was inspired by Indiana Jones and James Bond. So there’s so much, and it just felt like the perfect final step in my own personal adventure through this kind of franchise world.”
“I love the idea of, as Steven Spielberg describes it, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, as in being able to make things with that scale and to go on adventures that big and for the comedy and the heart to be matched but on this kind of great, great level,” she added. “And, actually, through all the adventure stuff that I’ve learned from those [franchises], it’s actually how to keep something feeling grounded as well as allow it to be bigger than itself in some way. And so hopefully that will all translate perfectly, seamlessly into Tomb Raider.”
NuLara Croft draws her signature bow via Card #1504, Magic: The Gathering – Secret Lair Drop (2023), Wizards of the Coast. Art by Eliz Roxs.
As previously reported, in addition to Waller-Bridge, Amazon’s Tomb Raider will also feature the writing talents of WandaVision and story editor and The Marvels writer Megan McDonnell.
Notably, Amazon’s Tomb Raider series is set to be just one part in the company’s planned ‘Tomb Raider universe’, an interconnected media endeavor that would connect through various television, film, and video game projects.
Lara Croft (Judith Gibbins) recovers from a careless fall in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (2024), Aspyr
To this end, according to Andreeva’s aforementioned report, though Waller-Bridge is primarily working on the television series, word has also circulated that “she also could be involved in the potential movie”.
However, as of writing, not only does the television series the only ‘Tomb Raider universe’ entry yet to have been officially announced, but Waller-Bridge’s attachment to any potential movie also remains unconfirmed.
