Tomb Raider Star's Heartbreak Over Sequel Cancellation
Alicia Vikander, star of the 2018 Tomb Raider adaptation, was left devastated when plans for a sequel were cancelled Despite earning $274 million at the box office, MGM felt uncertain about greenlighting a follow-up to the video game-inspired film
Tomb Raider actress Alicia Vikander was deeply disappointed when plans for a sequel were canceled. The 2018 film was an adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game and followed Lara Croft as she searched for her father while navigating through treacherous locations brimming with ancient artifacts. While the movie earned $274 million at the box office, it did not generate enough revenue for MGM to greenlight a sequel.
In a recent interview with Variety, Vikander expressed her disappointment that Tomb Raider 2 was not given the go-ahead in time for the studio to retain the rights. She stated, "I thought we were good to go. We had a director and a writer. For me, portraying an action character was beyond what I ever thought I would do, and I really enjoyed the physical aspect of it. If another opportunity like that came my way, I would definitely be interested."
Regrettably, Vikander never had the opportunity to reprise her role as the iconic Lara Croft, and the film rights are now firmly in the hands of Amazon. While there's a possibility that Vikander might make a cameo appearance, it's highly unlikely that she'll return as Tomb Raider's leading lady.
What Lies Ahead for the Tomb Raider Franchise?
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While the 2018 Tomb Raider franchise may have come to an end, the world of Lara Croft is not over yet. Amazon has plans to create a new Tomb Raider movie that will kick off a shared universe. The movie will be accompanied by a Tomb Raider TV show and a video game tie-in, all designed to expand the world of Lara and her adventures.
Creating a shared universe around Tomb Raider may seem like a daunting task, as the franchise tends to revolve around Lara Croft alone, unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe which has a plethora of characters to build stories around. Additionally, the availability of the actor playing Lara could limit the projects' scope, as she will only have a finite amount of time to devote to filming.
However, it would be foolish to dismiss the idea of a Tomb Raider shared universe altogether. Amazon clearly sees potential in the franchise and given the success of the Tomb Raider games, there is every reason to invest in it. If the shared universe can offer a platform to tell more stories, then it is worth pursuing. While it may be unfortunate that Alicia Vikander may not return to play Lara, there is hope that Tomb Raider will be in capable hands.
Source: Variety
