Aretha Franklin Biopic 'Respect' Pushed 7 Months, 'Tomb Raider 2' Now Unset

The Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” is moving from Jan. 15, 2021 to Aug. 13, 2021, while the “Tomb Raider” sequel is now unset, MGM announced on Tuesday.

MGM believes “Respect” to be a strong awards contender and is looking at previous Oscar Best Picture nominated films like “BlacKkKlansman,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “The Help,” all summer releases, for guidance.

Of course, theater closures due to the coronavirus pandemic are also forcing many studios to shuffle their release calendar. “Respect” was previously pushed Oct. 9 of this year to Dec. 25, with a wide release on Jan. 15.

Also Read: Watch Jennifer Hudson Channel Aretha Franklin in 'Respect' Teaser Trailer (Video)

Liesl Tommy is directing “Respect” that stars Jennifer Hudson as the famous singer. Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Mary J. Blige and Tituss Burgess also star. The film follows Aretha’s rise as a singer, first in her father’s church choir, to how she eventually attains international superstardom.

The sequel to “Tomb Raider” was announced in 2019 with Ben Wheatley directing. It was previously set for a March 19 release date.

Also Read: Alicia Vikander's 'Tomb Raider' Sequel Sets 2021 Release With Director Ben Wheatley

“Tomb Raider” originally hit the screens back in 2001 with “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” starring Angelina Jolie. That film also received a sequel, and both the films and the video game franchise are about an independent adventurer traversing the jungle and ancient ruins while evading attackers and dangerous traps. The most recent film found Croft tracking down her missing father on a remote island.

The 2018 “Tomb Raider” starred Alicia Vikander alongside Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Kristin Scott Thomas.

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."
Getty Images
Twitter went into a state of reverie Monday when photos of Alicia Vikander as Lara Craft leaked on social media.

1 of 14

”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.

View In Gallery

The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL