Sophie Turner Debuts as Lara Croft in Amazon's Tomb Raider Series

Amazon has officially unveiled the first image of Sophie Turner in the role of Lara Croft, marking a significant moment for the highly anticipated Prime Video series. The reveal coincides with the start of production, offering fans their initial glimpse into this new interpretation of the world-renowned archaeologist and adventurer.

Turner, widely celebrated for her portrayal of Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, brings a fresh perspective to the character. While the series promises a new take on Lara Croft, the initial image suggests a design that honors many of the features familiar to fans of the original Tomb Raider video games.

The series boasts a formidable ensemble cast, blending established franchise characters with new faces created specifically for the television adaptation. Sigourney Weaver joins the cast as Evelyn Wallis, a mysterious, high-flying woman described by Amazon as being "keen to exploit Lara's talents." This character is entirely new and not featured in the original video games.

In contrast, Jason Isaacs will portray a canon character: Atlas DeMornay, Lara's uncle. The production has also cast several other key figures from the Tomb Raider universe:

• Bill Paterson as Winston, the Croft family's longtime butler
• Martin Bobb-Semple as Zip, Croft's right-hand tech support and close friend
• Jack Bannon as Gerry, Lara's personal pilot
• John Heffernan as David, an exhausted government official

Additional cast members include Paterson Joseph as senior government official Thomas Warner, Sasha Luss as a fierce new adversary named Sasha, and Juliette Motamed as Georgia, a curator at the British Museum. Celia Imrie and August Wittgenstein also join the series in roles created for the show, expanding the world of this new adaptation.

The series is spearheaded by a prestigious creative team, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge serving as creator, writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner. She is joined by Chad Hodge as co-showrunner and executive producer. The production aims to "reinvent the franchise on a massive scale," with a unique goal of interconnecting "live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe."

Jonathan Van Tulleken directs the series and also serves as an executive producer. The project is a collaboration between Story Kitchen, the game developer Crystal Dynamics, and Amazon MGM Studios. This partnership underscores the ambitious scope of the project, which seeks to bridge the gap between interactive gaming and cinematic storytelling.

The launch of the television series is part of a broader expansion of the Tomb Raider franchise. At the recent The Game Awards, two new video games were officially confirmed, ensuring the archaeologist's adventures continue on gaming platforms.

The first title, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, is described as a reimagining of the very first game in the series. It is scheduled for release sometime in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. Following that, a brand-new game titled Tomb Raider: Catalyst is slated for a 2027 release. Alix Wilton Regan has been confirmed as the voice of Lara Croft for both games, taking over from Camilla Luddington, who portrayed the character in the previous Survivor Trilogy.

With production now underway and a star-studded cast assembled, the Prime Video Tomb Raider series is moving full steam ahead. The collaboration between television and gaming represents a bold new direction for the franchise, promising a cohesive narrative experience across different media.

While a specific release date for the series has not yet been announced, the simultaneous development of the show and the new video games indicates a coordinated effort to revitalize the Tomb Raider brand for a new generation. Fans can look forward to seeing Sophie Turner's interpretation of Lara Croft alongside a compelling new story that expands the legendary adventurer's world.