‘Tomb Raider’ Reboot: Lara Croft Inspired By Indiana Jones

The new Tomb Raider reboot won’t look anything like the previous Angelina Jolie driven films of the past, says director Roar Uthaug. The Norwegian filmmaker says he’s planning to completely remake the Lara Croft character and give her an origin story based on the new Tomb Raider games. He also says he’s drawing inspiration from one of his own favorite movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Tomb Raider Will Be A Lara Croft Origins Story

Mr. Uthaug has recruited Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Transformers 5) to write the script, which he says will be based on the 2013 Tomb Raider video game. He says he’s very appreciative of the way Crystal Dynamics has refashioned the Lara Croft character, making her seem more realistic and more relatable. Roar adds that it’s his hope to bring out Lara’s humanity on the big screen, so Tomb Raider audiences will feel a connection to the character.

Uthaug isn’t new to Tomb Raider. The filmmaker says he’s been playing the video games since the 1996 Tomb Raider debut, so he’s intimately familiar with all of the versions of Lara Croft. Roar also says that he has always been deeply interested in strong female characters, so he’s looking forward to making Lara someone that teen and adult women can admire.

Speaking of inspiration for Lara Croft, the Tomb Raider director revealed that there was another film that inspired him. Uthaug says Harrison Ford’s classic archaeologist was one other reason for taking on this project.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my favorite films growing up, so it’s definitely a dream to work in that kind of genre,” he remarked. “I think we’ll want to make it feel like a modern action movie and to make what’s going on feel like it’s going on for real.”

Who Will Play Lara Croft?

It’s early in the pre-production phase of the Tomb Raider reboot, but that doesn’t mean Uthaug and Ms. Robertson-Dworet don’t have their own ideas about who would make the best Tomb Raider heroine. Of course, they’re not talking about it just yet.

After Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life disappointed at box offices in 2003, Angelina Jolie announced that she would no longer be appearing as the video game character. This is partially responsible for the studio’s decision to reboot the series, instead of going with a new sequel, but rumors now suggest Ms. Jolie has again shown interest in returning to the Lara Croft role. It seems unlikely that Uthaug would cast her though, considering his ideas for a rebooted origin story.

Another rumored contender for the Tomb Raider lead role os Nina Dobrev. In the past, Dobrev said she was interested in starring in a comic book or novel adaptation franchise, something similar to Jennifer Lawrence’s Hunger Games role. Tomb Raider may be just what Nina is looking for, but can she be believed as a gritty, up from the streets, superhero? Let’s face it. Her baby face looks a bit too demur for someone expected to crawl around in dusty crypts.

Another rumored Lara Croft was Olivia Wilde. In fact, it’s said that she was offered the Tomb Raider role, but turned it down for undisclosed reasons.

Whoever ends up with the role will be taking on a project that may end up bringing a long running franchise to compete with the Marvel and DC film series. A Tomb Raider reboot that can build up a strong Lara Croft with an exciting origin story may be just the thing to bring the video game character much deserved box office success. Moving forward, it all depends on the actress chosen to become Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.

[Image by Paramount Pictures]