Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s ‘Tomb Raider’ Series Scores Amazon Pickup
The 'Fleabag' Emmy winner is writing the script for the project as part of her overall deal with the streamer.
The Tomb Raider TV series is moving forward at Amazon.
A year and change after The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed Emmy winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge was writing and producing an adaptation of the popular video game turned action movie Tomb Raider, the retail giant/streamer has handed out a series order for the live-action series. A worldwide casting search will begin soon for an actress to play Lara Croft in the series from Legendary Television.
The surprise announcement was made Tuesday during Amazon’s first trip to woo Madison Avenue ad buyers at TV’s upfront week in New York, with the news arriving after another video game adaptation, Fallout, has become a breakout hit for the service.
Waller-Bridge is writing the scripts for Tomb Raider. The Fleabag grad does not plan to star in the TV adaptation of the property, which spawned 2001 and 2018 film adaptations starring Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, respectively, as the adventurous archaeologist. The Lara Croft character, who has not yet been cast for Amazon, was also voiced by actresses including Camilla Luddington, Keeley Hawes and Minnie Driver in a slew of video game titles. Hayley Atwell also brought the character to life in a Netflix anime series.
“If I could tell my teenage self this was happening I think she’d explode. Tomb Raider has been a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly privileged to be bringing it to television with such passionate collaborators. Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all,” said Waller-Bridge.
In addition to writing, Waller-Bridge will exec produce the Amazon take alongside former head of comedy and drama Ryan Andolina and former head of overall deals Amanda Greenblatt. Andolina and Greenblatt launched their own production company and have a deal with Amazon. Dmitri M. Johnson will also exec produce via his dj2 company.
“I’m so happy to announce that we have ordered the epic, globetrotting series Tomb Raider from the incredibly gifted Emmy-award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge and the team at Crystal Dynamics,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “Fans and newcomers can look forward to exhilarating adventures that honor the legacy of this iconic character.”
The Tomb Raider TV series is the first project to stem from a massive rights deal with Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment. A feature film and at least one video game in the Lara Croft franchise are also in the works as Amazon plots a Marvel-like franchise with all of the projects connected. The Tomb Raider video game was announced in December 2022 with additional games in the franchise considered likely.
“Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Games are incredible collaborators with a massive reach across the globe enabling us to expand our Tomb Raider franchise with multiple new adventures and a shared passion for creating impactful, entertaining, emotional experiences for players and viewers throughout every facet of this universe,” said Scot Amos, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “These timeless stories span all media platforms to meet audiences where they want to engage with Tomb Raider; it’s a critical step towards our future with fans everywhere.”
At the time, one source with knowledge of the pact described it as being among the largest commitments at Amazon after Lord of the Rings. By comparison, Amazon is estimated to have spent $250 million on rights alone to Lord of the Rings, with that deal covering a multiple-season show (The Rings of Power) as well as spinoffs. Waller-Bridge is currently only involved with the TV show.
Waller-Bridge is said to be a big Tomb Raider fan and was eager to be involved with the TV foray, which had a series greenlight built into the larger Tomb Raider rights deal. Her involvement in the Tomb Raider series stems from her overall deal with Amazon that she renewed for another round of three years back in January 2023.
Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment put together the deal for the Tomb Raider anime series at Netflix, which included a two-season order. The company has spent the past year-plus working out rights to the property. Last year, Crystal Dynamics regained control of the rights to the Tomb Raider games after Embracer completed its acquisition of Square Enix assets.
Johnson, for his part, and his dj2 Entertainment signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios in February 2022. Under the pact, dj2 — which co-produced the Sonic the Hedgehog film — will focus on adapting video game titles for the streamer. Johnson’s dj2 is also working on adapting Life Is Strange and Disco Elysium as film and TV projects.
Under her second pact, Waller-Bridge is also developing Sign Here. The Jennifer Salke-led platform announced in March 2022 that it had greenlit a series from Waller-Bridge but declined to provide details, including if it was a comedy or drama. Production on that mystery series was scheduled to begin shortly afterward; it’s unclear if that remains on schedule. Waller-Bridge was previously attached to star opposite Donald Glover in a TV series version of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s action thriller Mr. & Mrs. Smith but the actress departed the show after her vision for the project differed from the Atlanta alum. (The duo, who both appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story, remain friendly following the amicable split.)
