Tomb Raider 2 Is (Apparently) Still Happening
Alicia Vikander is preparing to draw back her bow once again, as the star confirms a sequel to 2018's Tomb Raider is still on the way. While those of a certain age will always think of Angelina Jolie as their version of the treasure-hunting Ms. Croft, Vikander took a leaf out of Crystal Dynamics' book and delivered a performance that channelled the gritty 2013 game reboot.
The result was a Tomb Raider movie that was much closer to the games and swapped out the witty one-liners for a battered and bruised Lara. Despite middling critical reviews and apparently needing to make $275 million to break even (it earned $274.7 million at the box office), Tomb Raider limped through to be optioned for a sequel. Things have gone quiet, however, Vikander confirms Tomb Raider 2 is still on the way.
What's going on with Tomb Raider 2?
Click to enlargeIn a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, VIkander explained how she's excited to work with Misha Green. Although Roar Uthaug directed 2018's female-first movie, the Lovecraft Country showrunner is stepping up to take over where he left off.
Discussing what's going on with Tomb Raider 2, Vikander said, "I was like, 'Oh, I'm just now on a Zoom with an extremely talented woman that I think has done some incredible work. It would be so amazing if we get to go and do this very big-ass film together, going to kick some ass in front of the camera and behind the camera, you know?"
For those who watched the first movie, things ended on something of a cliffhanger. With Lara suspecting Kristin Scott Thomas' Ana could be an agent of Trinity, we last left her heading to pawn shop and picking up THOSE iconic dual pistols. If that doesn't scream sequel potential, nothing does.
When will we see Tomb Raider 2?
Tomb Raider 2 was first mentioned in April 2019, and while production was supposed to kick off last year with visits to countries including England, South Africa, Finland and China, COVID-19 put a stop to proceedings. Could it simply be a case of wrong place, wrong time for the franchise?
Warner Bros. was quick to take Tomb Raider 2 off its schedule, and although Green recently posted on Twitter to show off a script for Tomb Raider: Obsidian, Vikander recently told Collider nothing has been greenlit yet. By the sounds of it, it's all well and good that she's excited to work with Green, but it's far from the studio showing it has faith in Tomb Raider 2.
Looking at the stats, Tomb Raider's box office taking means it earned exactly what the Jolie-led 2001 movie of the same name made. Considering the industry has boomed since then, Warner Bros. was hardly running to the bank with its Tomb Raider takings. Only time will tell if there's still an appetite for Vikander to wield those pistols, but with fans seemingly more interested in where the games go next, we're not sure this one will see the light of day.
