Importance Score: 42 / 100 🔵
Tomb Raider TV Series Project in Jeopardy at Amazon Prime Video
After years of persistent rumors, Amazon Prime Video formally announced intentions for a new Tomb Raider TV series adaptation in May 2024. The highly anticipated revelation highlighted Phoebe Waller-Bridge as both writer and executive producer. Waller-Bridge, renowned as the creator of Fleabag and lead writer for Killing Eve, enthusiastically conveyed her personal connection to the project, stating, “Lara means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.” This video game series adaptation aimed to become a major franchise for the streaming service.
Project Status in Question
However, recent reports suggest the future of Lara Croft’s proposed television adventures is uncertain. Citing an unnamed source, The Daily Mail indicates that Lara Croft’s envisioned screen escapades are “not going ahead.” Another source offered a more definitive assessment, declaring the project “dead.” Neither Prime Video nor representatives for Waller-Bridge have issued any official statement regarding the cancellation rumors.
Production Hurdles and Script Concerns
This latest development is not the first instance of uncertainty surrounding the production. Speculation, whether justified or not, has centered on Waller-Bridge’s scripts, which reportedly faced delays and were subsequently deemed unsuitable for the intended direction of the Tomb Raider adaptation. Amazon Prime Video entered into a substantial exclusivity agreement with Waller-Bridge in 2019, valued at $20 million annually. Despite this significant investment, the partnership has yet to yield any premiered shows or films from the celebrated creator.
Leadership Transition and Initial Enthusiasm
The agreement with Waller-Bridge was initiated under the leadership of Jennifer Salke, who also championed and oversaw the Tomb Raider endeavor. Salke served as the head of Amazon Studios until recently. In 2023, Salke expressed considerable optimism for the project, stating, “[Waller-Bridge] grew up playing Lara Croft/Tomb Raider. We think it’s going to be a huge franchise for us.” This underscored the initial high hopes for the Lara Croft series.
Development Challenges and Financial Investment
Matthew Belloni of Puck, in an article analyzing Salke’s tenure at Amazon, portrayed the situation as deeply troubled. He noted, “Tomb Raider, which Waller-Bridge has been developing and which Salke personally supervised following the series greenlight last May, has now undergone two writers rooms and incurred tens of millions of dollars in development expenses. Despite this substantial investment, a finalized script remains absent.” The extensive development costs highlight the challenges faced in bringing this project to fruition.
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Future of the Tomb Raider Universe
Amazon has not yet formally confirmed the rumored cancellation of the TV series. Separately, a new Tomb Raider game is currently in development by Crystal Dynamics, veterans of the series. This upcoming game, built using Unreal Engine 5, is anticipated to include “mind-bending puzzles,” a “wide variety of enemies,” and represent “a new chapter in Lara Croft’s story.” While the game lacks a confirmed release date, its continued progress offers a degree of assurance for fans of the franchise.