Summary (tl;dr)

Sophie Turner is currently trending as Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first official image of the actress as Lara Croft for the upcoming Prime Video Tomb Raider live-action series, with production now officially underway. This marks a significant step in the franchise's new unified storytelling universe across television, film, and video games.

Essential Background

Lara Croft, the iconic British archaeologist, originated in the Tomb Raider video game series in 1996 and has since become a major cultural phenomenon. The character has been brought to life in live-action several times, most famously by Angelina Jolie in two films in the early 2000s, and later by Alicia Vikander in a 2018 reboot. The planned sequel to Vikander's film was canceled in 2022 when MGM lost the film rights, which then reverted to the game company, leading to a bidding war among studios. Subsequently, Amazon Studios secured the rights, intending to develop a new interconnected Tomb Raider universe comprising a film, a television series, and a video game.

The Full Story

In November 2024, it was announced that "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner was cast as Lara Croft for the eagerly anticipated Prime Video live-action Tomb Raider series, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge serving as creator, writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner. Today, Amazon MGM Studios released the first official image of Turner in costume as Lara Croft, showcasing her in the character's classic outfit, complete with dual handguns and red-tinted sunglasses, which many fans are praising as a faithful take on the original games. This reveal coincides with the official start of production for the series, which also features an ensemble cast including Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, and Celia Imrie.

Why It Matters

The trending news signifies a major revitalization for the Tomb Raider franchise, establishing the first-ever live-action television series adaptation of the beloved video game. This new series, developed by Amazon, is part of a larger strategy to create a unified storytelling universe that interlinks live-action television, films, and video games. The unveiling of Sophie Turner in the iconic role, especially her adherence to the classic Lara Croft aesthetic, has generated considerable excitement and discussion among fans, shifting initial skepticism to widespread approval. This relaunch is particularly significant as the Tomb Raider brand celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, with new video games also planned to align with this classic vision of Lara Croft.

Geographic Location

• Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (production of the Tomb Raider series is officially underway)