Who will take Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander’s mantle as the next Lara Croft remains unknown, but the series adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game franchise is seemingly moving forward. Prime Video has reportedly tapped The Marvels and WandaVision writer Megan McDonnell to join the planned series.
Per Variety’s report, the Marvel Cinematic Universe scribe has been hired to join the writer’s room for the planned Tomb Raider series adaptation from Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge. While the series might still be in its early stages of development — with the plot and other people involved remaining up in the air — McDonnell’s involvement serves as a green light that the studio is planning to move the project forward.
Besides the planned series adaptation, Deadline earlier this year reported that MGM and Amazon Studios are working together for another Tomb Raider film adaptation. However, no further announcements or release dates have been revealed as of the moment.
Tomb Raider’s cinematic history
Long before the Jolie-starring Lara Croft: Tomb Raider debuted in theaters in 2001, the action-adventure game the movie was based on eventually became a hit since its debut in 1996. It has also spawned multiple game iterations.
The Maleficent actress went on to star as the titular character in 2003 with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life. Jolie’s Tomb Raider also stars Iain Glen, Jon Voight, and Daniel Craig.
Alicia Vikander took on the role for the 2018 reboot, simply titled Tomb Raider. The synopsis for the Roar Uthaug-directed film reads: “Against her father’s final wishes, Lara leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island.”
A sequel to Vikander’s Tomb Raider film was in development back in 2019, but it was canceled due to a variety of factors. And now, with Prime Video presumably moving forward with the series adaptation, a new actress will soon continue Lara Croft’s adventures and legacy.
