Is the first great video game movie finally on the way? The jury is still out on that one, but at the very least, we can now safely say thatAlicia Vikanderlooks great as Lara Croft in theTomb Raiderremake. We had previously seen some unofficial set photos of the Oscar-winning actress in action, but now we have a couple of official photos that give us a great look at our rebootedTomb Raideras shooting continues.
The photos come courtesy ofVanity Fair, and they showAlicia Vikanderas Lara Croft on an island that will seemingly be the main setting of this newTomb Raidermovie. In one of the photos,Lara Croftis posing for the camera as more of a promo shot, but the other one has a bit more action to it. We see Lara Croft defending herself with just a stick from a mysterious figure. Here is whatAlicia Vikanderhad to say about playing the iconic video game character on the big screen in the newTomb Raidermovie.
“When I was asked to take on this role I got really excited, Lara Croft is a truly iconic character. I think people can identify with her for lots of different reasons, but for me I very much see her as a model for many young women. She’s trying to carve out her place in the world and connect her future with her past. She also has a fantastic mix of traits, tough, smart, vulnerable, plus she’s kick ass! She is also uniquely different to other characters I have taken on previously. It’s a lot of fun trying to get into Lara’s head and the challenge of getting to grips with such a physical role is an element of this project that I find an absolute thrill.”
Last year, bothWarcraftandAssassin’s Creedboth failed to prove that video games can make a truly great movie. In the case of theTomb Raider rehash, the creative team is reportedly taking most of their cues from the most recent 2013 series of video games, which is probably a good thing since those games were very well received. That is also supported by this new plot synopsis that was provided by Vanity Fair.
“Seven years after the disappearance of her father, 21-year-old Lara has refused to take the reins of his global business empire, instead working as a bike courier in London while taking college classes. Eventually she becomes inspired to investigate her father’s disappearance and travels to his last-known location: a tomb on an island somewhere off the coast of Japan. Suddenly, thestakes couldn’t be higherfor Lara, who, against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit, must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.”
This definitely sounds quite a bit different than the first twoTomb Raider movies, but there is the familiar plot element with Lara Croft dealing with her father. The firstLara Croft: Tomb Raidermovie, which was released in 2001 and starredAngelina Joliein the lead role, also had a portion of the plot centered on her father. That movie did decent business at the box office, bringing in $274 million, which was good enough to justify a sequel.Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Lifedidn’t fare nearly as well, only grossing $156 million worldwide and neither movie was met with a ton of praise.Angelina Jolieis certainly a talented actress in her own right, but producerGraham Kingreally likes whatAlicia Vikanderbrings to the table.
“Alicia Vikander brings tremendous depth and vulnerability to this character, which is every bit as important as Lara Croft’s fierce strength, determination, and physicality. Our film takes Lara from her early origins, to the physical and emotional challenges through which she ultimately becomes the Tomb Raider. It’s a complex character, requiring a range of elements and Alicia brings all of that together brilliantly in her portrayal.”
Tomb RaiderstarsAlicia Vikander,Walton Goggins,Dominic West,Daniel Wu,Alexandre WillaumeandLeo Ashizawa. The movie is directed byRoar Uthaug(The Wave) and is set for release on June 12, 2025. Be sure to check out the new photos ofAlicia Vikanderas Lara Croft for yourself below.
