I wrote the book on Tomb Raider – here’s how Sophie Turner and Alix Wilton Regan will rewrite Lara Croft’s history

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Since it first appeared in 1996, Tomb Raider has become a legendary series. For nearly thirty years, players have followed Lara Croft as she explores ancient tombs, battling enemies and collecting treasures.

I’ve worked with the Tomb Raider franchise throughout my career. A testament to that is the book I published in 2021 about the first two games, and I’m releasing another one later this year.

So, Tomb Raider is turning 30 in 2026, which is awesome! As a big fan, I was super excited to hear that Crystal Dynamics, the team currently making the games, is working on two new titles. Bring on the adventures!

One game, titled Legacy of Atlantis, is a fresh take on the original and will be released later this year. The other, Catalyst, is a completely new addition to the series and is scheduled for release in 2027.

Recent Tomb Raider games have consistently used different voice actors for Lara Croft, and Alix Wilton Regan was revealed as the newest to take on the role. I had a feeling this would happen after seeing her interview on TopMob Gaming’s TikTok.

With the upcoming Amazon series starring Sophie Turner, it’s becoming clear that the show is bringing back the classic, nostalgic version of Lara Croft that fans remember from earlier games and media.

An old favourite for a new audience

The new Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a fresh take on the classic 1996 game, but it seems to be drawing more inspiration from the 2007 remake, Tomb Raider Anniversary, in terms of its story and how the levels are built. This fits with Crystal Dynamics’ previous plan to connect all the main Tomb Raider games into one continuous storyline.

So, if you’re looking at Lara Croft’s story, the 2013 game is where it begins, and Tomb Raider Underworld from 2008 is the furthest along in her adventures. It’s a bit confusing, we get it! Luckily, with the upcoming releases of Atlantis and Catalyst – both featuring the same voice actor, Alix Wilton Regan – it’ll be much simpler for new players to follow the story.

Because the new game, Legacy of Atlantis, takes place early in Lara Croft’s story, we can expect a return to the cleverness and British humor that were prominent in the original 1996 game and parts of the 2007 remake. Shelley Blond, who originally voiced Lara, perfectly captured this humor, and it’s something that’s been missing from more recent installments.

Regan already appears to have a playful personality, and the trailers for her new games were full of witty humor. It would be great to see her portray a more lighthearted Lara Croft, similar to how Amanda Blond originally brought the character to life, appealing to both longtime fans and new players.

The new version of Legacy of Atlantis has the potential to be a top game of the year if it includes beloved features like Winston the Butler and music reminiscent of the original score by Nathan McCree. And there’s even more to look forward to.

A catalyst moment

Regan faces a new challenge with the character of Lara, offering a fresh take compared to other games in the series. The upcoming 2027 release, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, is set further into the established timeline than any previous game – approximately eleven games after the events of Legacy of Atlantis. Players will experience Lara as a seasoned, mature archaeologist when the game launches later this year.

Regan will probably portray a more grown-up Lara, building on her previous performances in Atlantis and Catalyst. This is great news because Regan has a lot of influence over how this older version of Lara will behave. Hopefully, Lara’s signature British humor will return, especially if it’s featured in Legacy of Atlantis, and based on Regan’s past work, I think she’ll definitely deliver that kind of personality.

Honestly, the Sophie Turner news was huge for me as a Tomb Raider fan. We knew she was cast as Lara Croft for the Amazon show, but seeing that first photo of her in the classic outfit on January 15th? That was a real ‘wow’ moment. It really brought back memories of the older games and got me super excited for the show.

It’s hard not to notice that Sophie Turner’s outfit – shorts, pistols, red sunglasses, and a sleeveless top – strongly resembles the classic look of Lara Croft.

Honestly, seeing Regan’s voice work paired with how Lara looks in the Amazon series… it just feels like we’re finally getting the classic Lara Croft back! It’s really exciting, especially with the anniversary coming up – it feels like a perfect time to revisit that iconic version of the character.

Rewriting history

The latest Tomb Raider projects seem to be bringing the series back to its roots, reminiscent of the original games and Lara Croft’s early adventures.

Honestly, if you’d told me this would be happening just five years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Everyone was still really into Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft, and she totally nailed that serious, action-hero vibe from the Survivor games – you know, the one where she’s always with a bow and arrow and just… intense.

I always felt like the Tomb Raider games with Camilla Luddington – the ones from 2013, 2015, and 2018 – were really focused on a darker, more realistic tone. It felt like they were deliberately trying to distance themselves from the older, more adventurous Lara Croft, and that wasn’t necessarily what I was hoping for at the time.

With the popularity of the Survivor series fading (though it certainly had its highlights), both Sophie Turner and Alix Wilton Regan appear to be taking inspiration from the original Tomb Raider games in their current work.

They’re reimagining Lara’s past by updating her classic style and playful spirit for a modern audience. It’s a mix of familiar stories and new adventures, all while staying true to the original character we know and love.

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Similar to how games like The Last of Us and Fallout gained popularity through TV adaptations, Tomb Raider is well-positioned to attract a wider audience with its own show.

When Sophie Turner’s new series premieres, Alix Wilton Regan’s debut game will also be released, and both will share a classic style reminiscent of the original Lara Croft adventures.

This cast is a great way to honor Tomb Raider’s 30th anniversary and also usher in a new era for the franchise in both games and other media.

There’s a lot of excitement building, especially with a fan event in Derby completely sold out later this year. Having interviewed actresses Shelley Blond, Judith Gibbins, and Jonell Elliott while researching my books about the making of Tomb Raider, I was consistently impressed by how proud they remain to have played Lara Croft.

I’m really excited about the future of this franchise! After feeling like it hadn’t been given the attention it deserved for years, I’m now optimistic about the two new games and the upcoming Amazon TV show. This is largely thanks to the efforts of Regan and Turner.

Daryl Baxter’s book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider,’ is now available for purchase at Pen & Sword Books, Amazon, and Waterstones.

The new Tomb Raider game, Legacy of Atlantis, will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year.

Authors

Daryl BaxterContributor

Daryl is a writer with three published books: The Making of Tomb Raider, 50 Years of Boss Fights, and another book related to The Making of Tomb Raider, which will be released later this year.

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2026-01-17 11:37