Tomb Raider Lead Alicia Vikander Gunning For “New And Fresh” Take On Lara Croft

Lara Croft is a character that needs no introduction. After all, the hardened archaeologist has been a cornerstone of gaming culture for almost two decades, but with the release of Roar Uthaug’s Tomb Raider in 2018, Alicia Vikander fully intends to bring something “fresh and new” to the iconic heroine and her origin story.

Lifting a leaf or two out of Crystal Dynamics book – hardly surprising, given the studio’s 2013 video game reboot scored so well with critics – Uthaug’s rendition of the beloved franchise is all but set to swap out the campy, over-the-top elements of the Angelina Jolie-fronted movies for a more intense, gritty experience.

Calling upon Crystal’s creative approach for inspiration is one thing, but Vikander has noted in the past that the Warner Bros. tentpole must stand on its own two feet. Chatting with Collider, the seemingly omnipresent Swede touched base on that creative process, along with what drew her to the role in the first place.

“With these big films… for me it’s really all about the filmmaker, and then of course the character and the story. I find that — big blockbuster movies, I grew up with, and… I think the thrill of being part of making one myself would be extraordinary. But it also comes down to, I met Roar and I’d seen The Wave and a few of his other Norwegian films and it’s with the kind of chance to make this story now, based on the rebooted game which is more of an origin story.

“You could intervene hopefully a great story and a great arc and then within that, have a very entertaining adventure film, which I loved growing up. And I played the game when I was a kid [laughs]. It was really the real first protagonist I had seen in a video game at that point. And of course Angelina Jolie made her into an icon. So it’s cool to try to step into the shoes and we’re hoping to make something that will hopefully will be fresh and new.”

Tomb Raider has been earmarked for launch on March 16, 2018. Offering some dramatic respite from the breathless pace of Jason Bourne, Vikander will cap off another stellar year with The Light Between Oceans opposite Michael Fassbender and Rachel Weisz on September 2.