The Tomb Raider film franchise began in 2001. Based on the classic Tomb Raider video games, the films saw moderate success with special praise for Angelina Jolie’s performance as protagonist Lara Croft. The original Tomb Raider film spawned a sequel in 2003, with Jolie reprising the titular role, until the franchise was left to rest. Until, that is, 2018 when the franchise was revived by Roar Uthaug with Alicia Vikander taking on the role of Lara Croft. The newest Tomb Raider installment saw greater commercial and critical success than its predecessor, being hailed as one of the most loved video game movies ever.
Though many fans of the game argue that there will never be another Lara Croft like Jolie’s, Vikander breathed new life into the character, effectively changing the way audiences viewed her. Unfortunately, MGM recently lost the rights to Tomb Raider. As a result, per Coming Soon, the franchise is currently undergoing another reboot, with Vikander no longer attached. This comes after Vikander had revealed that a sequel, though anticipated, had been in limbo. Though she was great in the role in many ways, there are certainly other actresses that could bring the beloved adventurer to life in a new and exciting way. Here are five actresses we think should play Lara Croft next.
5 Rosamund Pike
4 Emily Browning
Legendary Pictures
Emily Browning is an overall underrated actress. Making a name for herself as Violet Baudelaire in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Browning has since gone on to star in a number of flicks like Sucker Punch and Sleeping Beauty. Thanks to her outstanding performance in Sucker Punch, Browning has proven her ability to tackle action sequences head-on while delivering emotion. Both Jolie and Vikander, in fact, succeeded in bringing depth to the Tomb Raider heroine alongside the excitement of the adventure.
3 Gemma Arterton
Many of Gemma Arterton’s films have been seen as flops. From the adaptation of the video game Prince of Persia to the retelling of the classic fairytale Hansel & Gretel, many of the films she’s been in have not been (received) the greatest. However, that’s not to say that Arterton isn’t a fantastic actress. Her most prominent role in an action film was as Io in Clash of the Titans, and while her role is somewhat small, she proves to be a witty and strong character who helps Perseus on his journey. This exemplifies Arterton’s abilities as an actress to take on the task of being an example of a strong woman. Seeing Arterton in the role of Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider reboot would do a world of good, giving her both the exposure she deserves and a role that would suit her style of acting.
2 Margot Robbie
Warner Bros.
Margot Robbie has become a huge Hollywood name thanks to her variety of performances. From starring as the live-action version of Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad to making a strong femme fatale appearance in The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie carries a unique strength in every role she takes on. As such, seeing Robbie fill Vikander’s shoes as the new Lara Croft would certainly be interesting. Considering her performance history, Robbie would most likely bring a new sort of harshness to the character that had never previously been seen.
1 Emily Blunt
Lionsgate
Emily Blunt is another choice that Hollywood producers have been considering for the newest iteration of Lara Croft. Blunt seems to be an obvious choice for this tough yet intelligent character, considering her history in action films and her ability to show that beauty and strength can go hand in hand despite what Old Hollywood has tried to convince us. Blunt has showcased her skills as an action star in films like Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow, and A Quiet Place 2, the latter in which she has to take care of her three children in a world full of horrifying beasts all on her own. The actress is no stranger to action and seeing her in a Tomb Raider reboot would certainly be a sight to behold.
