Films based on video games sure do have a reputation for being awful, don’t they? With the exception of the Resident Evil franchise making a fair amount of bank for itself over the years, I can scarcely recall another game-to-film adaptation that was worth getting genuinely excited about. Last year, it felt like there was a chance that ASSASSIN’S CREED would break the time-honored tradition of movies based on video games sucking ass, but alas, fans of the Ubisoft alternate-history franchise scoffed at the efforts of the Michael Fassbender and Justin Kurzel-directed romp.
That said, I don’t think that gamers or moviegoers should lose heart, because just this morning, director Roar Uthaugh announced via his Instagram account that production on TOMB RAIDER has officially begun! That’s right, Lara Croft, the priceless-artifact-smashing, globe-trotting explorer is getting another shot on the big screen. This time, EX MACHINA star Alicia Vikander will strap on Lara’s tightly-fitting gear, raiding tombs alongside Walton Goggins – the film’s main villain. Throughout her adventure, the Indiana Jones-like Lara will work together with a sea captain played by Daniel Wu, as the pair search for Ms. Croft’s missing father.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT scribe, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, will write the script, while Warner Bros. and MGM (in association with GK Films) will aim to bring the character of Lara Croft onto the big screen, yet again. I say again because, in case you forgot, Paramount Pictures distributed the two previous Tomb Raider-related films (starring Angelina Jolie as Croft) which had earned a combined total of $432 million.
What do you all think? Is the timing right for Lara Croft to raid the screen of your local movie theater? Personally, I’m going to remain optimistic on this one. I’m a huge fan of the Tomb Raider game series, and if Uthaugh and Vikander can pull inspiration from the last two installments (Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider) of Lara’s video game adventures, we might end up with something worth getting legitimately excited about.
TOMB RAIDER is scheduled to explore your local theater on March 16, 2018.