Tomb Raider movie sequel is in limbo as studio loses rights
According to a new report, production of the planned sequel to 2018’s Tomb Raider film is in limbo after MGM has lost rights over the IP.
The sequel to 2018’s Tomb Raider film adaptation is no more, according to a new report. MGM lost the film rights, setting off a bidding war for the IP. As a result, the movie will no longer be a sequel and instead will be yet another reboot.
Tomb Raider is a series of games that follow lead protagonist Lara Croft as she goes treasure hunting and exploring ruins. The games featured platforming, puzzle solving, and combat alongside unique stories and interesting locales, making the series a beloved favourite. Tomb Raider was so popular that in 2001 and 2003, a pair of films were made that starred Angelina Jolie as the adventurous Lara Croft.
Both the games and movies received a reboot in the past decade — 2013’s Tomb Raider was a reboot of the original franchise, bringing Lara Croft to modern consoles and spawning two sequels in Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Similarly, in 2018, the Tomb Raider movie that was released did not star Angelina Jolie but instead starred Alicia Vikander on a whole new adventure. The 2018 movie earned just under $400 million AUD worldwide, enough for a sequel to be announced.
But it seems that MGM will not be the ones to deliver that — having lost the rights to the IP, the Tomb Raider movie is now a complete reboot yet again. Alicia Vikander is no longer attached to the project, and according to rumours, there are no current casting or directorial commitments.
The Tomb Raider IP has been in a state of flux for much of its lifespan — recently, Square Enix sold off game developer Crystal Dynamics to Embracer in a deal worth approximately $430 million AUD. This money was used to fund a contribution to a Bitcoin start-up worth $50 million AUD.
Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors said of the acquisition that Tomb Raider has “great potential, not only in sequels, but also in remakes, remasters, spin-offs as well as transmedia projects.”
Original reporting by The Wrap.
Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.
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