Alicia Vikander Swings in as Lara Croft in New ‘Tomb Raider’ Teaser, First Poster (Video)
Swedish actress’ Croft will be different to the version previously played by Angelina Jolie
Jeremy Fuster | September 18, 2017 @ 10:40 AM
Last Updated: September 19, 2017 @ 10:29 PM
“Tomb Raider” fans gave their first look at Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft on Monday with a new poster and teaser footage for the upcoming film from Warner Bros. and MGM based on the hit video game series.
The 15-second teaser footage shows Vikander doing all the stunts Lara has been known for since she first made her debut 21 years ago: drawing arrows, dodging traps and evading dangerous foes.
Based primarily on the 2013 video game that rebooted the franchise, “Tomb Raider” follows a 21-year-old Lara Croft as she embarks on a dangerous mission to an island off the coast of Japan that could hold the secret of her father’s disappearance seven years ago.
The film also stars Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Kristin Scott Thomas. Roar Uthaug (“The Wave”) is directing, with Graham King as producer.The executive producers are Patrick McCormick, Denis O’Sullivan and Noah Hughes.
“Tomb Raider” hits theaters March 16. Check out the poster below.
The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)
Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.
Lara Croft was introduced to the world with the release of Eidos' 1996 video game, "Tomb Raider."
Eidos
The franchise quickly became known for its strong blend of action-adventure and platformer gameplay, as Croft navigated puzzles and obstacles to find supernatural treasures.
Eidos
Lara Croft soon gained praise among video game critics for being a tough, resourceful female protagonist in a male-dominated medium, achieving icon status alongside the likes of Mario and Link.
Eidos
However, some critics claimed that Croft was a blank slate for gamers to project their ideals onto and lacked defining characteristics of their own. Her design has also been attacked as one of the defining examples of female oversexualization in video games.
Eidos
The criticism has been shared by those involved with the franchise. Toby Gard, the developer who created Lara Croft, did not like how the character's sex appeal was being used as a marketing strategy. Gard left the franchise after making the first game and would not return for nine years.
Eidos
Angelina Jolie was also not pleased with the revealing outfits she was asked to wear when playing Croft in the 2001 "Tomb Raider" movie. Jolie claimed that Croft's image was a bad example for young girls and asked for a redesign.
Paramount
By the time Jolie returned to do a second "Tomb Raider" film, she was given outfits that, while form-fitting, were appropriate for the cave exploration that Croft was known for.
Paramount
In 2006, Toby Gard returned to the franchise to create a rebooted "Tomb Raider" trilogy with Eidos Studios. Gard co-wrote the story for the games, giving Croft a deeper backstory and a more defined personality.
Eidos
In 2013, Square-Enix took over the "Tomb Raider" series and rebooted it again, taking Croft back to her first adventure just after college to show how she became an explorer and treasure hunter.
Square-Enix
The new Croft replaced sexuality with hardship, as she found herself shipwrecked and forced to survive without food or supplies while being hunted by a murderous cult. The 2013 game also shows Croft coming to terms with killing others to stay alive.
Square-Enix
Now Alicia Vikander, who gained praise among critics and feminists alike for her thought-provoking performance in "Ex Machina," is set to put her spin on Lara Croft.
A24
Vikander's Croft will reportedly be based on the recent Square-Enix games and will aim to make Croft feel "like a real human being."
“The Danish Girl” star tkes over a franchise that has long been at the heart of the debate about women in video games
Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.