The Tomb Raider video game series has been vastly popular ever since its first installment hit shelves back in the late 1990s starring Angelina Jolie, but after a few unsuccessful adaptations by Hollywood shortly after, the possibility of a reboot/remake seemed very slim. Although, over the last few years there have been a few rumors floating around about giving the series another chance on the big screen, with just recently breakout star Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) being considered for the lead role.
But that casting choice was far from finalized, and THR has just reported that Academy Award Winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) has officially signed on to play Lara Croft. While Ridley is no doubt a talented actress, Vikander is just as good a choice to play the rugged explorer. The video games follow Croft as she gets wrapped up in dangerous quests to find ancient tombs and treasures. The character could easily become the female equivalent of Indiana Jones, both in terms of personality as well as having the potential to launch another massive franchise.
Vikander’s diverse work speaks for itself, ranging from science-fiction in 2015’s Ex Machina to period romance in the upcoming Tulip Fever. She’s also starring in another big blockbuster with this year’s Jason Bourne, the fifth installment of the renowned spy franchise. There was not much question that the actress would eventually gain her Hollywood stardom, but entering the Tomb Raider series is making that come even sooner than most were expecting. While this news is exciting, there is not an official release date yet for the film, although if we’re lucky we could be seeing it by the end of 2017.
We will keep you updated when more information becomes available.