Prime Video has officially announced that Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner will take on the legendary role of Lara Croft in its upcoming Tomb Raider TV series. The exciting news was revealed on Thursday, confirming Turner as the latest actress to step into the boots of the iconic adventurer and archaeologist.
The series is being created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the award-winning mind behind Fleabag and Killing Eve. This marks one of the first major projects from her Amazon deal, which was first announced back in 2019.
Based on the world-famous video game franchise, Tomb Raider has previously seen big-screen adaptations with powerhouse performances by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander. Turner expressed her excitement about taking on the role:
“I’m thrilled beyond measure. Lara Croft is such an iconic character who means so much to so many. They’re massive shoes to fill, but with Phoebe at the helm, we’re all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have cooking.”
Turner, who rose to global fame as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones and later played Jean Grey in the X-Men films, recently shared that she now seeks projects that are “super unique and very niche.”
Waller-Bridge is equally enthusiastic about the project, describing Turner as “formidable” and highlighting the passion of the entire creative team, which also includes co-showrunner Chad Hodge (Wayward Pines, Good Behavior) and director Jonathan Van Tulleken (Shōgun, The Changeling).
“It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving,” said Waller-Bridge. “Everyone on board is as passionate, brave, and hilarious as Lara herself. Get your artifacts ready… Croft is coming.”
Amazon MGM Studios confirmed that production will kick off in January next year. Vernon Sanders, head of global television, called Lara Croft “one of the most recognizable and iconic video game characters of all time.”
With Turner in the lead role and a powerhouse creative team behind her, fans can expect a bold new adventure for the legendary explorer.
