Bad news for any fans looking forward to the further adventures of Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft, as The Wrap has revealed that MGM has lost the movie rights to the video game franchise Tomb Raider.
Vikander became the second actress after Angelina Jolie to portray the iconic video game heroine when she took on the role of Lara for the Roar Uthaug-directed reboot, which grossed $274.7 million back in 2018.
MGM quickly greenlit a sequel, with Ben Wheatley (Kill List) originally attached to direct for a March 2021 release, only for production to be delayed due to the pandemic. Misha Green (Lovecraft Country) subsequently came on board to direct in January of last year, but has been unable to get the project off the ground before MGM’s option expired.
The news is perhaps not unexpected, given that Vikander admitted earlier this month that she had no idea what was going on with the planned Tomb Raider 2: “With the MGM and Amazon buyout, I have no clue. Now it’s kind of politics. I think Misha and I have been ready, so it’s kind of in somebody else’s hands, to be honest.
The rights to the Tomb Raider franchise are controlled by Graham King’s GK Films, which is now shopping them to potential studios and outlets, as well as seeking a new lead for what will therefore presumably be another reboot of the series.
Are you disappointed that we won’t get to see Alicia Vikander back as Lara Croft? Who would you like to see taking on the role? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
