Game of Thrones Star’s Tomb Raider Series Gets a Big Update at the Perfect Time

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Starting from 1996 when the initial “Tomb Raider” game hit the market, this franchise has remained a significant part of popular culture. Lara Croft’s character, with her adventurous exploits, has made it possible for the video game series to endure over many console generations and multiple titles. This same concept has also facilitated Lara’s transitions into various mediums. Several “Tomb Raider” movies have been created, yet now Lara is aiming to make an impact on television screens. For some time, Sophie Turner, known for her role in “Game of Thrones,” has been linked to lead a series on Amazon. Recently, this project has made a significant stride forward.

Based on reports from Deadline, preparations for the Tomb Raider TV series are slated to commence in January 2026. At this point, a release date has not yet been announced. Phoebe Waller-Bridge continues her role as creator, writer, and executive producer for the show. Chad Hodge is also involved, taking on the roles of co-showrunner and executive producer. Additionally, Jonathan Van Tulleken joins the team as an executive producer and director.

Amazon’s Tomb Raider Series Is Coming Out at the Perfect Time

Over the past few years, there have been many connections drawn between “Tomb Raider” and other action-adventure series like Indiana Jones and Uncharted (the initial Uncharted game was jokingly dubbed as “Dude Raider”). Despite their enduring popularity, chances of seeing fresh installments in either of these franchises on the big screen are slim. The latest Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Crystal of Fate, flopped at the box office in 2023, with Lucasfilm opting to focus on new Star Wars projects instead. The Uncharted film featuring Tom Holland generated $407.1 million globally, but plans for a follow-up have been sluggish. It wasn’t until last year that Mark Wahlberg confirmed an existing script for Uncharted 2.

At present, there’s a noticeable gap in the market for content similar to the Tomb Raider series. The Tomb Raider franchise, with its gripping action-adventure narratives and beloved main character, could effectively bridge this gap. Amazon has proven itself as a prime destination for action-packed content, with shows like The Terminal List: Dark Wolf and Butterfly consistently topping Prime Video’s rankings. Given Amazon’s affinity for action programming, a Tomb Raider show would likely thrive on the platform.

In an ideal scenario, the reboot of Tomb Raider could potentially receive even more positive critical reviews than Prime’s other action series, given the exceptional talent behind it – Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Known as one of her generation’s sharpest creative minds, she is renowned for her hit series Fleabag, a dark comedy that showcased a remarkable level of originality and ingenuity. This inventiveness could prove invaluable to any project, including Tomb Raider.

Waller-Bridge has a knack for developing characters that captivate audiences, ensuring they become fully invested in the stories unfolding on screen. Moreover, she has previously collaborated with Harrison Ford in the movie Sector 5, a treasure-hunting tale. The insights and skills she gained from this experience could be effectively utilized to bring her unique touch to the Tomb Raider reboot.

As a film critic, I’ve always found myself underwhelmed by the Tomb Raider movies. Despite a peak Rotten Tomatoes score of 52% for the 2018 reboot with Alicia Vikander, it never received a sequel. It seems that television might just be the perfect platform to bring this game franchise to life.

Sure, the Tomb Raider series shares similarities with Indiana Jones, making it cinematically appealing. However, video games are an entirely different beast – they’re long-form narratives that can delve deep into characters, worlds, and plots in ways films often can’t. The upcoming Amazon TV series seems poised to leverage this potential, offering a more expansive canvas to develop the story and its characters in intriguing ways.

If it manages to emulate the success of shows like the Fallout adaptation on Prime Video, it could become another stellar example of translating a beloved video game into a compelling television series. Fingers crossed!

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2025-09-03 21:42