According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl) has been cast as Lara Croft in MGM’s Tomb Raider. Roar Uthaug (The Wave) is set to direct, and Graham King will produce.
The THR report says the film will focus on a “young, untested” Croft embarking on her first-ever adventure. Vikander’s casting is somewhat surprising considering Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ Daisy Ridley was also rumored to be in contention for the role, but Vikander is a sought-after commodity in Hollywood right now—after roles in Ex Machina and The Man from UNCLE last year, she’ll soon be seen in The Light Between Oceans and the new Bourne movie—so it’s not surprising that she’s been recruited for a film with major franchise potential like this one (we’re definitely getting a Twomb Raider as well, right?).
I personally thought Ridley was a perfect fit to play Lara, and I appreciated the symmetry of her following Harrison Ford’s career trajectory of space scoundrel to archaeology scoundrel. But of course there’s no way to know why Ridley didn’t wind up with the part, and she certainly has no shortage of cool offers coming her way. Regardless, I’m interested to see what Vikander and Roar Uthaug will bring to the character. What about you?
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