Based on the bestselling action-adventure video game franchise of the same name that had its start way back in 1996, the Tomb Raider series is all-set for a film reboot on the big screen, with Ex Machina star Alicia Vikander in the lead role as archaeologist Lara Croft. Leading up to the new movie's 2018 release date, Vikander has been fairly forthcoming in regards to her own approach towards the role, and has cited how close attention to the property's past will be taken into consideration as the project moves forward.
The new Tomb Raider film will serve to wipe the slate clean following the two previous films in the series starring Angelina Jolie - in much the same way that video game developer Crystal Dynamics did with their reboot of the video game property, back in 2013. There's definitely still plenty of room for "something new and fresh" to be brought to bear upon the popular gaming franchise as a cineamtic spectacle, and the latest word has the film determined to get back to the roots of the classic action-adventure title.
During a recent interview conducted by HeyUGuys with veteran Hollywood producer Graham King, the talented filmmaker took a brief moment away from discussing his work on the new World War II drama Allied to touch upon how the new Tomb Raider movie will distinguish itself from the two installments starring Jolie that came before it. Speaking to what will be a fairly daunting task, King stated:
"Well this is kind of what we call a ‘back to the roots story’. This is a young Lara Croft in search to see if her father is dead or alive, so it has a very emotional part to it and I think that’s what Alicia found so interesting about it. I think the storytelling is really good and i think we’ve got the right crew and a great director and I think it’s going to be really fun making a film like this."
Exploring the origin story of Lara Croft by way of an epic adventure wherein the iconic archaeologist goes out in search of her father certainly sounds intriguing, and is definitely a viable narrative avenue to take in order to reestablish the Tomb Raider franchise on the big screen. It remains to be seen how avidly fans of the series will want to see the new movie, but with a fresh origin story of sorts on the way perhaps the reboot will provide enough incentive for moviegoers who still recall the original Angelina Jolie movies - with a sigh or a groan.
Adapting popular video game properties to film has never been an especially easy or forgiving task, but with Vikander in the lead role of the new Tomb Raider film, perhaps King and company will manage to deliver the kind of cinematic adventure that even longtime gamers will appreciate. For now, here's to hoping for the very best when Lara Croft makes her return as an action movie star.
Source: HeyUGuys
