Tomb Raider's Sigourney Weaver Teases "Witty" Lara Croft TV Series Adaptation
Sigourney Weaver confirmed she’s been cast in the Tomb Raider TV series from Prime Video, teasing writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “witty” scripts for the Sophie Turner-led adaptation. The Game of Thrones alum said she has “massive shoes to fill,” following Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander’s big-screen portrayals of iconic video game character Lara Croft.
Sigourney Weaver is smashing that start button for Tomb Raider.
After back-to-back space adventures in Avatar: Fire and Ash and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, the 76-year-old film icon confirmed she’s ready to stay Earth-side with a role in Prime Video’s small-screen take on iconic video game character Lara Croft.
Amazon MGM Studios announced in September that a Sophie Turner-led TV series is booting up with, per Weaver, the “great” Phoebe Waller-Bridge co-showrunning the project that’s set to start filming in Jan. 19.
“I'm very excited. The scripts were incredible and very funny, very charming, very witty, as we've come to expect from Ms. Waller-Bridge,” Weaver told the Associated Press at Fire and Ash’s London premiere Dec. 11. “I've always been a huge fan of hers, so I'm delighted."
While the Alien actress stopped short of expanding on how she fits into the series, she did reveal her character’s name: Wallace.
“A famous English name,” Weaver remarked, before making an apparent reference to Wallis Simpson’s controversial marriage to Prince Edward (which also calls into question how her character’s name is spelled). “Not always very popular, wouldn't you say?"
Waller-Bridge’s passion for world-famous archaeologists dates back years before her temple runs alongside Henry Jones Jr. in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
“It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving,” the Fleabag star said in a studio statement. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out—Croft is coming.”
Turner's casting made her the third actress to pick up the dual pistols, following Angelina Jolie (2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and 2003’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—The Cradle of Life) and Alicia Vikander (2018’s Tomb Raider).
“I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft. She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many — and I am giving everything I’ve got,” the Game of Thrones alum said. “They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”
No release date has been set for the series, which includes Jonathan Van Tulleken as director and Chad Hodge as co-showrunner.
“Lara Croft is one of the most recognizable and iconic video game characters of all time,” Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios' head of global television Vernon Sanders shared. “We are thrilled to have the wonderfully talented Sophie Turner bring this character to life who is defined by her courage, strength, and unshakable resolve. Led by the brilliant Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this series will honor the beloved Tomb Raider legacy while delivering fresh adventures to fans worldwide.”
