Amazon Plans ‘Tomb Raider’ Universe

Having seen success––at the very least by way of buzz––with the likes of ‘The Rings of Power’ and ‘The Boys’, Amazon is breaking open its (admittedly large) piggy financial institution for a brand new potential franchise.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the corporate has struck a cope with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment for the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ sport sequence.

Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ sequence has gone on to be an enormous promoting title throughout numerous platforms, incomes greater than $95 million by final 12 months and spawning a large quantity of merchandising.

The sequence offers the participant management of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels world wide trying to find misplaced artifacts and infiltrating harmful tombs and ruins.

It has been tailored a number of occasions for films––2001’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ and 2003’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life’, each of which starred Angelina Jolie because the title character, and 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider’, which rebooted the sequence, with Roar Uthaug within the director’s chair and Alicia Vikander as Croft.

That most up-to-date title got here from MGM and Warner Bros., however there was speak of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench’s Ben Wheatley after which ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green connected to make it, improvement stalled.

Amazon, after all, purchased MGM final 12 months, however the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ video games had already lapsed from the studio due to the dearth of ahead motion on the brand new film.

With the rights in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to constructing out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a brand new sport launch and what’s going to most likely be one other film reboot.

Perhaps most intriguingly, the brand new universe additionally includes a potential Prime Video TV sequence from ‘Fleabag’ creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who just lately renewed her cope with Amazon. While we would not have anticipated Waller-Bridge to be all in on a ‘Tomb Raider’ title, she’s apparently a fan of the video games. and has had expertise with motion on the likes of ‘Killing Eve’ and up to date Bond outing ‘No Time to Die’ (for which she supplied script polishes).

No particulars have but emerged on what Waller-Bridge’s present may appear like (she doesn’t plan to seem, simply write and produce) or the way it may connect with any potential film (or films, you recognize Amazon will wish to get their cash’s price). But it’s actually fascinating to ponder the concept of a Lara Croft with the author’s trademark snappy dialogue.

Yet Amazon just isn’t the one firm with an curiosity in Croft––this can little question be disheartening for Netflix, which already has a ‘Tomb Raider’ anime sequence within the works following a two-series order. Or maybe it’ll drive up curiosity in all issues Lara?