Tomb Raider fans looking forward to seeing Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in the upcoming reboot are going to have to be patient — the next big screen adaptation of the video game franchise isn’t slated for release until March 16, 2018, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Overall, details about the project have been scarce. The reboot will, however, reportedly follow a “young and untested” Croft on her first adventure, according to an earlier THR report. The synopsis sounds reminiscent of the recent game reboot, which breathed new life into the series in 2013. The cinematic reboot will see Lara Croft return to the big screen for the first time in more than a decade, when Angelina Jolie played the character in two commercially successful films loosely inspired by the series: 2001’s Tomb Raider and 2003’s Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.
Vikander has rapidly risen to stardom recently thanks to her Oscar-winning turn in The Danish Girl, and breakout performances in films like Ex Machina and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. In 2016, Vikander will appear in the drama The Light Between the Oceans and Jason Bourne, which marks the return of Matt Damon to the action spy series. Her casting came after it had been widely reported that Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley was a leading contender for the coveted role. Cara Delevigne, Emilia Clarke, and Saoirse Ronan were all rumored to be in the running, as well.
The project is coming along slowly but surely. The reboot has been in some form of development since game series publisher Square Enix licensed the film rights to GK Films in 2011. MGM and Warner Bros are overseeing production together, with Graham King producing and Norwegian director Roar Uthaug (best known for his 2015 film The Wave) at the helm.
The release date is unfortunately later than had been expected — and hoped for — by many fans. Hollywood gossip blog Heroic Hollywood previously suggested the film was on track to hit theaters in October 2017.
Updated 7/7/16 by Stephanie Topacio Long: This posted has been updated to incorporate the film’s release date.
