Fans of the Tomb Raider franchise were thrilled in 2023 when Phoebe Waller-Bridge was set to bring the iconic video game to life as a TV show for Amazon. Known for her talented storytelling, Waller-Bridge was poised to craft an engaging series that would appeal to both old and new audiences. The plan was for the series to launch in 2025, with anticipation building around its development. However, recent events have cast doubt over the project’s future.
According to a report by The Daily Mail, Waller-Bridge struggled to deliver the scripts on time and those that were submitted were deemed unsuitable. An insider ominously noted, “I hear it is not going ahead,” raising concerns about the series’ progression. Although this alone might not fully spell disaster, other factors have contributed to the uncertainty around the show’s potential release.
Amazon Studios underwent a significant leadership change with the departure of Jennifer Salke, who had been a strong supporter of Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider adaptation. Salke, who had championed Waller-Bridge’s vision, said in a 2024 interview with Variety, “We’re so happy now that we retained her because she’s obsessed with and grew up playing Lara Croft/Tomb Raider.” Salke’s exit has led to speculations about the project’s viability, as she was a pivotal advocate of Waller-Bridge’s creative direction.
With Sophie Turner, known for her role in Game of Thrones, as a frontrunner to portray Lara Croft, excitement was building around the casting. Turner, however, is now busy with other commitments, which complicates the casting process further. Previous Lara Croft portrayals by Angelina Jolie, Alicia Vikander, and Hayley Atwell have left a lasting legacy that Turner would have been expected to uphold. The opportunity to revisit the character promised to be a thrilling endeavor, yet logistical challenges and timing conflicts have halted progress.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge herself expressed a deep childhood connection to the video game. In a 2023 Vanity Fair interview, she shared her experiences as a gamer, “My parents were very smart because they didn’t actually limit me. They could sense that I was going to just game myself into the ground, and I did.” Her sincere affection for Tomb Raider highlighted her enthusiasm to faithfully rejuvenate Lara Croft in a television format.
Waller-Bridge envisioned a powerful female action character that honored the game’s roots while executing a fresh take, inspired by her work on James Bond and Indiana Jones 5. She described her intent to pay homage to the ’90s vibe, saying, “What if I could take the reins on an action franchise, with everything I’ve learned, with a character I adore, and also just bring back some of that ’90s vibe?” Her passion was unmistakable, with the fans eager to see her vision realized.
Despite these challenges, the impact of Amazon’s leadership shuffle cannot be understated. The abrupt halt means that creative forces like Waller-Bridge, driven by nostalgia and respect for the franchise, are put in a position where they must decide on alternative paths forward. Although the show’s fate remains unknown, there is a clear sense of loss for Waller-Bridge, who had hoped to breathe new life into Lara Croft for a new generation of audiences.
The future of Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider series is unsure amid these setbacks, but the desire to reintroduce Lara Croft remains. Fans and creators alike await further developments, hoping this beloved video game hero will one day navigate new adventures on the small screen.
