Tomb Raider’s First Look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft Has Us Confused
Tomb Raider just gave us our first look at Sophie Turner as the iconic Lara Croft. When Prime Video announced this project, a lot of folks would wonder what era of the franchise they would adapt. From this image of Sophie Turner, it would seem we’re mixing a little of the old and a little of the new.
The Lara Croft actress appears influenced by the PlayStation original, with a couple modern tweaks to her costume. Fans watching at home were probably just happy to see the glasses make their return. But those early games are notorious for their stories getting a little out there. Crystal Dynamics’ reboot Efforts are decidedly more grounded.
They still have a British woman doing backflips and avoiding ancient traps that couldn’t possibly trigger. However, Because they focus on a younger version of Lara Croft, They play a little closer to the ground. Not saying we won’t get dinosaurs in this version of Tomb Raider, but I wouldn’t go in expecting it, is all I’m saying.
Turner’s version of the heroine being so indebted to the OG games could even be a good thing when it comes to marketing this movie. (And, no not because of that you goofballs.) More because the Millennials who are probably tuning-in for this series will instantly get a little pang of nostalgia when they see the green tank top.
Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft is decidedly retro
Tomb Raider deciding to go so far towards Eidos-core is commendable in a way. With Y2K still flexing its muscles as trends go, opting for that late 90s sheen does have it’s appeal. How excited do you think the creative team was when Jonathan Bailey single-handedly ushered in unisex tiny glasses? It does make a lot of sense. And Turner seems pumped to be stepping into a role that a lot of aging gamers absolutely still adore. So, you’ll see some celebration of this image on social media today.
Back when Tomb Raider was announced, Turner gave a statement sharing her excitement for the upcoming project. “I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft. She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got,” she said.
Turner continued, “They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina [Jolie] and Alicia [Vikander] with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”
Tomb Raider’s Reboot Trilogy Influence
We spent a lot of time talking about the influence of those old 90s games. But, the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy deserves some flowers too. Crystal Dynamics has been putting out good entries in this franchise for a decade now? (The first reboot game dropped in 2013!) So, for a slightly younger audience, that’s their introduction to Lara Croft.
One of the great things about the more modern games is the fact that Croft is so much earlier in her “career.” (Is this a job? Hobby, mayhaps? Idk.) She’s frightened and alone in a place that doesn’t make sense. Also, the human enemies are completely irredeemable. So, you don’t even feel bad about fighting back when you inevitably get spotted. (The combat, fail-state, and other concerns have been debated to death back when we had a more robust media ecosystem.)
In all honesty, it’s more likely that the upcoming more literal reboot efforts from Crystal Dynamics are why we’re doing the teal tank top and tiny circle glasses this time around. When in doubt, look towards corporate synergy and you’ll probably get the answers you’re looking for. Not anything to be mad about, but it is interesting considering how fans wonder if Tomb Raider is going to look to the future at some point.
(featured image: Prime Video)
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