Aubrey Plaza’s compelling performance in the new film Emily the Criminal actually proves quite thoroughly that she could pull off the role of Lara Croft in a future Tomb Raider film. Emily the Criminal is produced by Plaza and directed by newcomer John Patton Ford. The independent thriller stars Plaza in the titular role of Emily, a New Jersey native living in Los Angeles who turns to credit card scams because of crushing weight of her criminal record and student debt. As Emily’s story progresses, her new life of petty crime leads to violent ends.
The interest around Plaza taking up the Croft mantle began when she revealed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that her friend Edgar Wright had mistakenly thought Plaza had already been cast as Lara Croft. The history of Lara Croft and her Tomb Raider reboots is convoluted, but the IP is currently up for grabs, so eventually the role will be recast. Plaza herself admitted that, all jokes aside, she’d absolutely be open to playing the iconic action heroine.
While Lara Croft and Emily couldn’t be more different on paper – a British aristocrat and archeologist vs. an East Coast petty criminal with student debt – Plaza’s performance in Emily the Criminal contains the same ingredients needed to play the Tomb Raider. As Emily descends deeper into the underworld of LA, much like Croft delves into the depths of history, Plaza handles scenes of mystery, tension, and action with the same grit, adaptivity, and indomitable will needed for a perfect Croft. Ultimately, the roles are actually very similar, because both characters are survivalists at their core.
Could Aubrey Plaza Actually Be Cast In A Tomb Raider Movie As Lara Croft
Aubrey Plaza’s movies and TV roles are numerous, but the fact of the matter is she’s mostly known for her comedic roles and indie movies. Because of this, it would seem like a leap for her to ever be seriously considered for the part of an action hero. But Wright was onto something, and coincidence aside, Plaza does look strikingly similar to Croft in her marketing photos for Emily the Criminal. This sort of buzz is noteworthy, particularly because of the bidding war currently happening for the rights to the Tomb Raider franchise. Plaza’s combination of the right look, the right performance, and the right time for a reboot could easily be enough to land her Lara Croft.
While Emily the Criminal both created, and in its own way supported, the idea of Plaza playing the next Tomb Raider, there’s still no guarantee it will ever happen. Casting Lara Croft for a Tomb Raider reboot will undoubtedly require a lot of time, consideration, and money from whichever studio manages to secure the rights to do so. Before Plaza and Ford’s indie thriller was released, Plaza would likely not have been in the running for a role so outside of her purview. Now, however, because of the perfect blend of timing, hype, and performative proof, the golden possibility of Aubrey Plaza as the Tomb Raider is within reach.