Square-Enix

The upcoming “Tomb Raider” movie is set to be released on March 16, 2018, MGM and Warner Bros. announced on Thursday.

Alicia Vikander was cast as Lara Croft in late April, shortly after she took home an Oscar for her performance in “The Danish Girl.” The film is something of an origin story, which will follow a young and untested Lara Croft as she fights to survive her first adventure.

“Tomb Raider” is being produced by MGM and Warner Bros., which acquired the rights from GK Films.

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March 16, 2018, has long been the rumored release date for “The Flash,” so it’s now clear that Warner Bros. has other plans for that film.

The studio also announced on Thursday that the thriller “Unforgettable,” starring Katherine Heigl, will open in theaters on April 21, 2017.

Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug (“The Wave”) is directing “Tomb Raider,” which is based on the popular Eidos video games that have sold over 35 million units worldwide.

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Graham King will produce under his GK Films banner. GK’s Denis O’Sullivan will oversee the project on behalf of the company, while Cassidy Lange will oversee for MGM.

Vikander takes over the role of Lara Croft from Angelina Jolie, who signed on to the first “Tomb Raider” movie after she, too, won an Oscar (for “Girl, Interrupted”).

The last film in Jolie’s series, “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,” was released in 2003.

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.

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“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.

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