There is a new Lara Croft in town, and she will be played by English actress Sophie Turner.

This was confirmed by Amazon MGM Studios, which unveiled the 29-year-old as the fictional adventurer and archaeologist in Prime Video’s Tomb Raider live-action series, which is based on the video game franchise of the same name.

According to American entertainment outlet The Hollywood Reporter, Turner was the front runner for the role in a shortlist which included Canadian actress Mackenzie Davis, British-French actress Emma Mackey and British actress Lucy Boynton.

Emmy-winning English actress and screenwriter Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, 2016 to 2019; Killing Eve, 2018 to 2022) will serve as creator, writer and executive producer on the series, according to American media. Production is slated to begin on Jan 19.

“I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge, 40, said in a press statement. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave and hilarious as she is.”

Turner is best known for her roles as Sansa Stark in hit fantasy series Game Of Thrones (2011 to 2019) – which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 – and as a young Jean Grey/Phoenix in the superhero films X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019).

Lara Croft was previously played by American actress Angelina Jolie in the action-adventure film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and its sequel Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle Of Life (2003). Swedish actress Alicia Vikander played the character in the movie reboot Tomb Raider (2018).

“I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner said in the press statement. “She’s such an iconic character who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got.

“They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands.” 

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