Tomb Raider Anime Coming To Netflix With A Marvel Star
Netflix has released a teaser for the highly anticipated Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft anime series. The clip sees Lara (voiced by Marvel star Hayley Atwell) with her bow and arrow, taking aim at an unseen target. The scene then cuts to other action-packed moments from the series, including the protagonist leaping into a giant hole. The video ends with Lara shooting an arrow.
Announced in January 2021, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft picks up after the events of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the third installment in the rebooted game series, which was released in 2018 for earlier-generation consoles and PCs. It was the culmination of the reboot trilogy and provided the foundation for the Netflix series storyline.
Hayley Atwell will voice the titular hero in Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
Although there isn’t a precise release date for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, it is slated for a 2024 premiere. Tasha Huo, who serves as showrunner and executive producer, previously said that the series will remain faithful to the game’s continuity by filling in the gaps of the Tomb Raider timeline and blending it with the reboot trilogy.
This news coincides with a notable resurgence in the franchise. Amazon has partnered with developer Crystal Dynamics to release the next installment in the game series. Additionally, there are reports that the tech giant is actively exploring the creation of a movie and a television series centered on the iconic Lara Croft character.
Tomb Raider History
The franchise, created by British video game company Core Design, has expanded into various forms of media over the years, including movies, comics, novels, and more. It began with the release of Tomb Raider in 1996, featuring adventurer Lara Croft. The original game focused on action-adventure gameplay, puzzle-solving, and exploration.
In 2013, the series was rebooted with Tomb Raider, which explored Lara Croft’s origin story. The reboot gave the character and gameplay a more realistic and gritty tone. The franchise then expanded into various spin-off titles, such as Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, which offered cooperative gameplay.
Angelina Jolie starred as Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life in 2003. In 2018, a rebooted film franchise was launched with Alicia Vikander portraying a younger Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. This film followed the rebooted game’s storyline more closely, emphasizing Lara’s origin and survival skills.
Various comic book series have also been published by Top Cow Productions. Several novels based on the franchise have been written by different authors, expanding on the character’s adventures. The franchise has spawned a wide range of merchandise, including action figures, clothing, and collectibles.
Upcoming Games
The franchise continues to evolve with new game releases. Tomb Raider Reloaded, developed by Emerald City Games and published by CDE Entertainment, was released in February 2023 for iOS and Android devices. It uses the classic character depiction of Lara Croft, moving away from the “grittier” presentation of the character in the 2013 reboot trilogy.
