What a difference a few months makes! Amazon’s **live-action Tomb Raider** series, once rumored to be “dead” in April, is now officially set to begin production in January 2026. Taking on the iconic role of **Lara Croft** is *Game of Thrones* actor **Sophie Turner**, a name previously considered a frontrunner for the part in 2024 alongside Lucy Boynton.
“I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing **Lara Croft**,” Turner shared. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many—and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”
Series Leadership and Production Details
The highly anticipated series will feature Phoebe Waller-Bridge sharing the showrunner responsibilities with co-showrunner Chag Hodge, while Jonathan van Tulleken will direct and serve as an executive producer. Waller-Bridge, who has been involved with the project, expressed her excitement about the creative team and Turner’s casting. “I’m so excited to announce the formidable **Sophie Turner** as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge stated. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is.”
This definitive casting announcement and a precise production kickoff date—January 19, 2026—effectively dispels earlier reports that the series faced cancellation due to significant development costs, suggesting the project is now firmly on track and moving forward.
Current State of Tomb Raider Video Games
For **Tomb Raider** fans eager for new adventures in video game format, the situation remains less clear. A new Tomb Raider game, announced in April 2022 and slated to be built on **Unreal Engine 5**, has seen sparse updates since **Amazon** confirmed its publishing duties. The developer, **Crystal Dynamics**, has also encountered challenges, including layoffs in March and August following the cancellation of the *Perfect Dark* reboot, which they were co-developing with The Initiative.
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Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, underscored the studio’s commitment. “We are thrilled to have the wonderfully talented **Sophie Turner** bring this character to life who is defined by her courage, strength, and unshakable resolve,” he said. “Led by the brilliant Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this series is set to honor the beloved **Tomb Raider** legacy while delivering fresh, engaging adventures to fans worldwide, a testament to our dedication at Amazon to compelling storytelling.”