‘Tomb Raider’: Sophie Turner Set As Lara Croft; Chad Hodge Joins Phoebe Waller-Bridge As Co-Showrunner; Amazon Series Heads To Production
It took awhile but Prime Video’s Tomb Raider series is finally going to production. Some elements have stayed the same — Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who had been attached from the get-go, is creator, writer, executive producer.
And Sophie Turner, who entered negotiations last November after testing for Lara Croft, is confirmed for the high-profile role previously played on the big screen by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander.
New additions include Chad Hodge as executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Waller-Bridge and Jonathan Van Tulleken (Shōgun) as director and executive producer.
The seres, from Amazon MGM Studios, has set January 19 as the start of production date.
That is exactly three years after word first emerged that Fleabag and Killing Eve creator Waller-Bridge had been tapped to write a Tomb Raider TV series under her overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios. The series was officially greenlightedin May 2024, with Turner identified for the lead six months later.
That was followed by months of no new updates amid speculation about creative issues on the series which reportedly went through two writers rooms that didn’t result in approved scripts. Hodge, creator of such series as Runaway, The Playboy Club, Wayward Pines and Good Behavior, was brought in as a consultant in the second room, sources said. That led to his appointment as executive-producer and showrunner. Meanwhile, Turner’s schedule started filling up, putting a 2025 production start in doubt.
“I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge said. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. 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…”
Tomb Raider is based on the popular video game franchise, which follows the adventures of world-famous archaeologist and adventurer Lara Croft (Turner).
The series, from Story Kitchen, Crystal Dynamics and Amazon MGM Studios, is executive produced by Crystal Dynamics, Waller-Bridge and Jenny Robins through Wells Street Productions, Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg and Timothy I. Stevenson through Story Kitchen, Michael Scheel, and Legendary Television.
“Lara Croft is one of the most recognizable and iconic video game characters of all time. 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,” said Vernon Sanders, Head of Global Television, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. “Led by the brilliant Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this series will honor the beloved Tomb Raider legacy while delivering fresh adventures to fans worldwide.”
Turner, an Emmy nominee for her first major role as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, recently headlined the British crime drama limited series Joan and the thriller movie Trust and next stars in another British show, The Dreadful.
“I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner said. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. 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.”
Waller-Bridge is represented by UTA, Independent Talent, McEwan & Penford, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Turner is repped by CAA and Independent Talent Group. Hodge is repped by WME, Cullen Conly at Anonymous Content, and Dean Bahat at Ziffren, Brittenham. Van Tulleken is repped by WME, Untitled, and Independent Talent. Story Kitchen is repped by WME & Pryor Cashman.