Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft Breaks the Mould in Amazon Series
Sophie Turner teases a fresh take on Lara Croft for Amazon’s Tomb Raider, promising a focus on character depth and skill over the franchise’s usual glamour. Discover what’s changing in this much-anticipated adaptation.
When Amazon set out to revive the Tomb Raider franchise for television, few expected the new Lara Croft to be anything but a familiar face. Yet, Sophie Turner, who steps into the iconic boots, is determined to chart a different course. Gone are the days when the character’s appeal rested on her status as a 90s polygonal pin-up. Turner, speaking candidly, made it clear:
“It’s about her and her story and what drives her, rather than what so many people also love about her, which is how hot she is in the games and the movies,”
she told the L.A. Times.
This time, the focus shifts. Turner’s Croft, guided by Phoebe Waller-Bridge behind the scenes, is set to showcase a side of the adventurer that’s rarely been given centre stage.
“I really want to show the other side,”
Turner explained.
“She’s so unashamedly capable. She is not a woman who hides her strengths at all.”
The intention is to move away from the glossy, hyper-sexualised image that’s long defined the character, and instead highlight her intelligence, drive, and resilience.
Reimagining an Icon
Curiously, the first glimpses of Turner’s Croft do nod to the past. The signature red sunglasses, a staple from Tomb Raider 3 and a fixture on magazine covers in the character’s heyday, make a return. It’s a subtle wink to long-time fans, but the substance is different. The days of Croft’s sexuality being front and centre—most notably during Angelina Jolie’s tenure—are firmly in the rear-view mirror. Since then, the franchise has gradually shifted its lens, with the Legend trilogy and the more recent reboots delving into Croft’s exploits and personal struggles rather than her allure.
Turner’s approach is not without its supporters. Alix Wilton Regan, who lends her voice to Lara in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and the future Catalyst instalment, has already given her seal of approval. On Instagram, she wrote,
“Lara looking mighty fine / fire / fierce these days. @sophieturner - I AM HERE FOR IT.”
The endorsement from a fellow Croft performer adds a layer of anticipation for what’s to come.
Looking Ahead
Amazon’s adaptation remains without a release date, but the buzz is building. With Turner at the helm, the series promises to peel back the layers of a character who, for decades, has been as much a symbol as a protagonist. The new direction aims to resonate with audiences who crave more than nostalgia—a Lara Croft defined by her wit, grit, and unflinching capability, rather than her appearance.
For those eager to see how this vision unfolds, patience is required. In the meantime, there’s no shortage of speculation about how Turner’s take will stack up against her predecessors, or how the show will fit into the broader landscape of video game adaptations. One thing’s certain: this Croft is set to surprise.