Tomb Raider Star Offers Update on Long-Delayed Sequel

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Tomb Raider star Alicia Vikander says the highly-anticipated sequel is in development hell following COVID-related delays.

Alicia Vikander has offered an update on the status of the long-awaited sequel to 2018's Tomb Raider.

While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Vikander revealed that the Tomb Raider sequel is currently in a state of limbo. Lovecraft Country's Misha Green was previously tapped to write and direct the film. "With the MGM and Amazon buyout, I have no clue. Now it's kind of politics," Vikander said, referring to Amazon's acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. "I think Misha and I have been ready, so it's kind of in somebody else's hands, to be honest."

Vikander went on to explain that while she "can't really say" a lot regarding what Green has in store for main protagonist Lara Croft in the sequel, she is enthusiastic to see how audiences will respond to her vision when it is finally brought to life. "I've been excited to show the world," Vikander said. "I love what [Green has] done with Lovecraft Country."

This is not the first time Vikander has talked about the progress of the Tomb Raider sequel, which was once scheduled to debut in theaters in March 2021. She stated last year that she still thinks the film will one day come to fruition, even though MGM delayed it indefinitely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. "It's not greenlit, but the script is in the making. And I think everyone is excited, and I would love to revisit Lara again," she said.

Green boarded the project January 2021, replacing Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley, who were previously set to write and direct the movie. In March 2021, she announced that the first draft of the script had been finished, revealing that the working title for the sequel is Tomb Raider: Obsidian. "Still a long journey to production," Green tweeted. "Title's not even approved. But first draft finished!"

2018's Tomb Raider adapts the long-running video game series of the same name, specifically taking its cues from the 2013 reboot game. It follows Lara Croft as she journeys to the mysterious Island of Yamatai to uncover the secrets of the mythical Queen Himiko whom her father was researching before he died. The expedition soon goes awry, however, when Lara's ship capsizes and the iconic tomb raider suddenly finds herself in a fight for her life against a shadowy organization called Trinity.

Source: Entertainment Weekly