If you’ve ever fantasized about watching Aubrey Plaza show wanton disregard for ancient artifacts or escape the clutches of a raging river of death, you’re not alone. It turns out that Plaza would be open to playing Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider reboot if the opportunity arose. How did this bizarre casting idea come about? The situation started after Last Night in Soho’s Edgar Wright mistook Plaza for the iconic character on the cover of MovieMaker magazine. Word got out about the misinterpretation, and fans voiced their support for Plaza to raid some tombs.
“Look, I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I love it,” Plaza explained to Newsweek. “It was so funny when he texted me that because I didn’t realize how strikingly similar those photos are. Emily is carrying a purse strap and Lara Croft has a gun holster, those are very different. But it’s very weird and totally accidental, but I’ll take it.”
She added, “I love action movies, and I don’t discriminate against big movies or small movies. I love all kinds of movies. I would love it if somehow that turned into a real thing, but who knows, I have no idea. That’s an iconic character. She’s the original badass.”
Wait! Doesn’t Alicia Vikander play Lara Croft on the big screen? Well, about that. MGM recently lost the film rights to the Tomb Raider franchise. There is a bidding war going on for Tomb Raider now. The property is scorching, as another epic video game series reboot is on the way. To hang on to the Tomb Raider film rights, the studio had until May to greenlight a sequel, but they missed their chance. Multiple insiders who know the project told The Wrap that several studios are now bidding for the franchise. The rights reverted to the game company after MGM lost them, and Graham King’s GK Films are considering the incoming offers. Alicia Vikander is no longer attached to Tomb Raider as it’s expected that the next film will be a complete reboot.
While Plaza’s name is not in consideration for the role of Lara Croft in the eventual Tomb Raider reboot, it’s fun to think about the actor that played April Ludgate (and so many more memorable characters) exploring forgotten sarcophagi and shattering priceless pottery. Let us know in the comments below if you’d be down for Aubrey Plaza playing Lara Croft.