Sophie Turner Raids the Tomb In Upcoming Series
Sophie Turner's adding another iconic character to her resume, and this time she's trading dragon queens for ancient artifacts.
Amazon Prime Video announced Tuesday that the 29-year-old actress will play Lara Croft in their upcoming "Tomb Raider" series. After conquering Westeros as Sansa Stark and wrestling with mutant powers as Dark Phoenix, Turner's now stepping into the tank top and combat boots of gaming's most famous archaeologist.
Big Shoes to Fill
"I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft," Turner said in a statement that probably undersells how nerve-wracking this actually is. She acknowledged the obvious elephant in the room: "They're massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia."
That's putting it mildly. Angelina Jolie basically owned the character for a generation, turning Lara Croft into a household name with 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and its 2003 sequel. Those films pulled in a combined $435 million globally, back when that was serious money. Alicia Vikander took her own crack at it in 2018, delivering a grittier, more grounded version that still managed $275 million at the box office.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge As Creator, Writer, and Co-Showrunner
The pressure's somewhat offset by the creative team Amazon's assembled. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the genius behind "Fleabag," is running this show as creator, writer, and co-showrunner. If anyone can inject fresh life into a character who's been raiding tombs since 1996, it's the woman who made us fall in love with a morally questionable priest.
Jonathan Van Tulleken, fresh off "Shōgun," is directing, which suggests they're aiming for something cinematic and ambitious. Production kicks off January 19, 2026, giving Turner plenty of time to master her British accent and start doing pull-ups.
Speaking of pull-ups, Vikander famously couldn't do a single one before training for the 2018 film. She ended up cranking out six and completely transforming her physique through MMA training, archery, and a sugar-free diet that sounds absolutely miserable. Turner's probably googling "how to get ripped in one year" as we speak.
The timing here is interesting. Video game adaptations are having a moment - "The Last of Us" proved they could be prestige television, not just cash grabs. "Fallout" showed Amazon knows how to handle beloved gaming properties. Now "Tomb Raider" gets the streaming treatment right when nostalgia for the franchise is peaking.
Details Are Scarce
What we don't know yet could fill a tomb. No word on supporting cast, plot details, or release date. Will they go full origin story? Adapt one of the games? Create something entirely new? Given Waller-Bridge's involvement, expect something that honors the source material while completely subverting expectations.
The real question is which Lara we're getting. Jolie's version was all confident swagger and dual-wielding pistols - basically James Bond in shorts. Vikander's was younger, scrappier, more vulnerable. A broke bike messenger searching for her dad, not the aristocratic adventurer we knew from the games.
Turner's Lara will probably land somewhere unique. She's got the action chops from "X-Men," the dramatic range from "Game of Thrones," and enough experience with rabid fandoms to know what she's getting into. Plus, at 29, she's the right age to carry a franchise for years if this takes off.
Amazon clearly wants their own franchise player. They lost the film rights to MGM in 2022, but TV rights are a different beast. With streaming wars intensifying, a successful "Tomb Raider" series could be their answer to Netflix's "Stranger Things" or Disney+'s Marvel shows - something that brings subscribers and keeps them hooked.
A Big Move for Turner
Turner calling Waller-Bridge being "at the helm" means "we're all in very safe hands" feels like both genuine relief and smart PR. After years of being defined by Sansa Stark, she needs this to work. Another iconic role could cement her as more than just "that girl from Game of Thrones."
The nearly 30-year-old franchise has survived multiple reboots, countless games, and some truly questionable creative decisions (anyone remember the 2007 animated series?). It's proven remarkably resilient, probably because the core concept - smart, capable woman explores dangerous places and finds cool stuff - never gets old.
Will Turner's version work? We'll find out sometime after January 2026. But between her proven talent, Waller-Bridge's writing, and Amazon's deep pockets, this might be the adaptation that finally gets Lara Croft right for television.
Until then, Turner's probably somewhere learning parkour and practicing her posh British accent, wondering what she's gotten herself into. Welcome to the tomb, Sophie. Try not to break anything valuable.
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