With the amount of content coming to the famous franchise, it has never been a better time to be aTomb Raiderfan. TheTomb Raiderseries began in 1996 with the release of the original video game by Core Design, which featured the character of Lara Croft, a British archaeologist, as she explored tombs around the world to find forgotten artifacts, investigating the lore, solving puzzles, and fighting enemies.Tomb Raiderhas since expanded into movies and TV shows, andthere are two exciting new Lara Croft properties coming up.
Lara Croft is one of the most popular and recognizable video game characters of all time particularly because of how many games and adaptations there have been.The most recent iteration of the character appeared inTomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, Netflix’s animated series starringHayley Atwell as the voice of Lara Croft.Tomb Raidergames were also remastered in 2024, with the rest to follow in 2025. However, there is more to come asAmazon Prime is developing aTomb Raideruniverse, with Netflix also confirming thatThe Legend of Lara Croft’s story isn’t over.
The Legend Of Lara Croft Season 2 & Amazon’s Tomb Raider Are Moving Forward
There Are Two Tomb Raider TV Shows Coming Soon
Amazon Prime’sTomb Raidershowappears to finally be moving forward after being in development since 2023. According toDeadline, casting has started for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider series, with Sophie Turner and Lucy Boynton set to test for the role. Previously, Lara Croft has been depicted in live-action by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, who were both sound casting choices despite their respective films’ mediocre Rotten Tomatoes scores, so Amazon’s new show will need to meet or exceed expectations. Writer and executive producer Waller-Bridge discussed the Amazon series in May, expressing her excitement and love for the character.
“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. 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.”
Furthermore, Netflix has confirmedTomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croftseason 2 will happen.The news of Netflix’sTomb Raiderrenewal came soon after season 1’s premiere, which earned a 73% Tomatometer among critics, showing that Netflix is dedicated to the franchise. The official logline teases that Lara Croft “joins forces with her best friend Sam” in season 2, “as she delves deeper into the hidden secrets of Orisha history.”
The Future Of Tomb Raider Adaptations Was Unclear After The 2018 Reboot
Vikander’s Tomb Raider Was The Last Movie Adaptation
Following 2018’sTomb Raidermovie, the future ofTomb Raideradaptations was uncertain.The firstTomb Raidermovie was released in 2001, starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, and its financial success spawned a sequel two years later. However, Jolie’sLara Croftmovies were not very well-received. The next adaptation was Alicia Vikander’sTomb Raider, which was released in 2018, to mixed reviews. A sequel was planned, but the studio lost the rights to the adaptation.
Hayley Atwell
73% Tomatometer, 33% Popcornmeter
There was hardly any news about anotherTomb Raideradaptation for years until 2023 when Amazon announced plans for aTomb Raideruniverse.With a new TV show from Amazon and potentially an entire universe based on it, the future ofTomb Raiderlooks interesting, especially considering the streaming platform’s productions have had a lot of success. Therefore, while it isdisappointing that there’s noTomb Raidersequel for Vikander’s Lara Croft, there looks to be plenty of modernTomb Raidercontent planned for the future between the Netflix animated series and Amazon’s upcoming universe.
Legend Of Lara Croft & Amazon’s Tomb Raider Can Show Different Sides Of The Character
There Are Many Elements Of Lara Croft To Explore
Hayley Atwell’sTomb Raider: Legend of Lara Croftfollows on from theSurvivortrilogy ofTomb Raidervideo games, meaning it features a more experienced and skillful version of the character. However, Netflix’s Lara Croft is different from that of the previous trilogy in some ways.Netflix’s animatedTomb Raiderseriesshows a more emotional and human side to Lara Croft, as she struggles with her traumatic past. While this approach was divisive among fans, it felt like a natural next step in her journey.
Prime Video’s Tomb Raider Show: First Lara Croft Contenders Revealed In New Report
Six months after its initial announcement, Prime Video’s first contenders for leading their Tomb Raider live-action adaptation have been revealed.
On the other hand, Amazon’sTomb Raidercould explore a different side of the character, especially as the streaming service’sTomb Raider reboot lead into a shared universe. Having perhaps agame, movie, and TV show following the same Lara Croft could be a cool idea. Additionally,recentTomb Raidergames are rated Mature, and Amazon has a track record of delivering the more brutal shows with existing IP, such asThe BoysandFallout.Therefore, Amazon’s reboot could be the best live-action adaptation ofTomb Raideryet, so long as they get the characterization right.
Tomb Raider
TheTomb Raiderfranchise is an iconic series of action-adventure games, films, and media centered around the character Lara Croft, a British archaeologist known for her exploration of ancient tombs and perilous environments. The franchise began with the original video game in 1996 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, with Lara Croft becoming one of the most recognizable and influential characters in gaming history. Over the years,Tomb Raiderhas expanded into multiple video game series, films, comic books, and even theme park attractions, maintaining its relevance through various reboots and adaptations.
