Amazon has cast Sophie Turner as Lara Croft in its upcoming untitled Tomb Raider series. The Game of Thrones and X-Men actress will embody the protagonist of Tomb Raider in the live-action television series, which is set to begin filming in January 2026.
The untitled Tomb Raider TV series by Amazon has had few positive updates since its announcement two years ago. Rumors circulated in March and April of this year that the Tomb Raider series was dead in the water, and though those rumors were refuted in May, few other details have been shared since then.
Amazon Prime’s Tomb Raider TV Adaptation Gets a Worrying Update
The Tomb Raider TV series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge is reportedly facing some challenging problems at Prime Video.
Sophie Turner Is Lara Croft in Amazon’s Tomb Raider
Now, not only does the series have a production start date, but a leading lady as well. According to Variety, Sophie Turner has officially been cast as Lara Croft, confirming reports of her involvement in the Tomb Raider series from as far back as November 2024. The series is set to begin production on January 19, 2026, almost exactly three years after the show was first announced. Considering how long it takes to produce shows like this, fans still may not see this Tomb Raider show until 2027 or later, but the fact it has a star and an official timetable is a relief after years of uncertainty.
Turner marks the third actress to embody Lara Croft in live action, inheriting the role from Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider from 2001 and its sequel, The Cradle of Life, in 2003, and Alicia Vikander’s performance in the 2018 adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game reboot by Crystal Dynamics. “I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner said. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”
Though she has appeared in two dozen projects over the last 15 years, Turner's first and most well-known role is that of Sansa Stark in the controversial fantasy series Game of Thrones. However, Marvel fans may also recognize her as Jean Grey from X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. She also appeared in two different Jonas Brothers music videos, and played Heather in Barely Lethal and Margaret Ratliff in The Staircase.
I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft. She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.
Fleabag star and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge is still serving as the creator of the series, but Good Behavior writer Chad Hodge has also been brought in as a co-showrunner and executive producer alongside her. What’s more, Shogun director Jonathan van Tulleken has likewise been signed on as director and executive producer. After a tumultuous journey, it seems like the Tomb Raider series is finally getting off the ground. Only time will tell if the show was worth the wait.
