Sophie Turner has officially stepped into the boots of one of pop culture’s most iconic adventurers. On January 15, Prime Video released the first image of Turner as Lara Croft and confirmed that production on the new Tomb Raider series has begun in Los Angeles.
At a Glance
- Sophie Turner debuts as Lara Croft in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Prime Video adaptation
- Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, and Celia Imrie round out the high-profile cast
- Turner calls Lara “a fierce female role model” in a male-dominated world
- Why it matters: A beloved video-game heroine returns to TV with Fleabag-level creative firepower behind her
The 29-year-old actress leads the reimagining created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also serves as executive producer. In the first-look still, Turner sports Croft’s signature gear: red sunglasses, cargo shorts, tank top, leather backpack, and a side-arm strapped to her thigh.
Turner has long admired the character. “I’ve been a long-time fan of Tomb Raider and the character of Lara,” she said in an earlier statement. “She has always felt for me, very emboldened in a male-dominated world. She’s a fierce female role model!”
Joining Turner are Sigourney Weaver (76) as Evelyn Wallis, a powerful woman eager to exploit Lara’s talents; Jason Isaacs (62) as Atlas DeMornay, Lara’s uncle; and Celia Imrie (73) as Francine, the British Museum’s fundraising-obsessed Head of Advancement.
Waller-Bridge, 40, called the project a dream come true when Prime Video ordered the series in May 2024. “If I could tell my teenage self this was happening, I think she’d explode,” she said. “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.”
The Emmy winner added, “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.”
Casting Turner, she declared the actress “formidable,” while Turner praised her predecessors. “Massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances,” she noted, “but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands.”
Expanded Ensemble
Martin Bobb-Semple, 28, plays Zip, Lara’s tech-savvy sidekick; Jack Bannon, 34, is Gerry, her snack-collecting personal pilot; and John Heffernan, 44, portrays David, a weary government official swept into Lara’s orbit.
Paterson Joseph, 61, appears as Thomas Warner, a senior official hired to clean up a bureaucratic mess, while Juliette Motamed is Georgia, a strict British Museum curator committed to historical preservation.
Sasha Luss, 33, takes on Sasha, a fiercely competitive new adversary, and August Wittgenstein, 44, plays Lukas, an illegal raider who shares a complicated past with Lara.
Additional cast includes Bill Paterson as Winston, the longtime Croft family butler, and others whom Waller-Bridge described as “beyond my wildest dreams.”
Production Underway
Cameras are rolling in Los Angeles now. The streamer has not yet announced a premiere date, but fans can expect the adventure to land exclusively on Prime Video.
Key Takeaways
- Sophie Turner’s first photo as Lara Croft signals a gritty, faithful take on the classic heroine
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s involvement promises sharp, character-driven storytelling
- A powerhouse supporting cast-Weaver, Isaacs, Imrie-adds dramatic heft
- Production is active, with a release window expected later this year
