A new raider has been chosen. Sophie Turner, best known for her star-making role in Game of Thrones, will officially take on the iconic role of adventurer Lara Croft in a new live-action Tomb Raider series for Amazon Prime Video. The project comes from the powerhouse creative mind of Emmy-award-winning creator and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will serve as co-showrunner alongside Chad Hodge.
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The announcement marks a major step forward for a project that has been on a long and uncertain development path. Waller-Bridge began developing the series in 2023, with Amazon officially issuing a series order in May 2024. While Turner’s name was mentioned as a possible star late last year, an executive change-up at the studio led to recent rumors that the show might be cancelled. This definitive casting news puts those fears to rest and confirms that production is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The series is poised to be a significant revitalization for the character in live action. Lara Croft hasn’t appeared on screen since Alicia Vikander’s portrayal in the 2018 film of the same name. However, the character has remained a cultural force, thanks in part to the successful animated Netflix series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, which stars Hayley Atwell as the voice of the heroine and was recently renewed for a second season.
The combination of talent behind the new Prime Video series is formidable. Waller-Bridge brings her signature sharp writing and wit, as well as recent experience in the world of globe-trotting adventure from her work in the Indiana Jones franchise. Turner, meanwhile, is a proven star with the dramatic and physical presence to embody a modern and complex version of Lara Croft.
Following the massive critical and commercial success of its video game adaptation Fallout, Amazon Prime Video is positioning Tomb Raider as its next big bet on turning a beloved gaming IP into a global streaming hit.
