After a string of successful video games saw the impossibly proportioned heroine, Lara Croft; the gun-toting, archeologist, lead in the Tomb Raider games; become one of the most recognized gaming icons in history (opposite a chubby plumber and a spray-painted hedgehog), the Tomb Raider franchise made the jump to the big screen in 2001, appeared again in 2003, but it apparently now due fro a reboot; according to GK Films.
After recently acquiring the rights to the franchise, GK Films expressed their intention to reboot the franchise; moving away from the previous films (Lara croft: Tomb Raider, and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) which starred Angelina Jolie (The Tourist) as the titular, adventure seeking, British archeologist; hinting at a plan to produce a possible origin story for the hero, or at least replace Jolie; stating that “the [upcoming] films will create daring new adventures for the young and dynamic Lara Croft.”
The move coincides with those currently being taken in the gaming world; as video game developers Crystal Dynamics are currently producing a rebooted video game origin story for the character, which is due to re-energize the series and is due to be released later this year; setting the stage for movie producers Graham King and Tim Headington (who worked with Jolie on The Tourist) to reinvigorate what they refer to as “a hugely successful film franchise.”
And despite being generally panned by critics, the Jolie featured Tomb Raider movies were a hit with film-fans; grossing $432 million at the worldwide Box Office; meaning that although they don’t have a writer, director, or star, lined up as yet, it’s no wonder King and Headington confess to being “very excited to be rebooting and continuing the Tomb Raider phenomenon.”
But despite lacking a script, a writer, a director, or a star (as while Tron: Legacy star Olivia Wilde was recently rumoured to be a possibility in a planned reboot, nothing was officially confirmed), GK Films and its producers are optimistic about their plans for the series, and plan to release their first Tomb Raider film in 2013.
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: Deadline
