With the underwhelming reception of the 2018 Tomb Raider film, some fans may be skeptical about another adaption, especially if it seems disingenuous to the source material. What’s tricky about a new adaptation is that many Tomb Raider fans have mixed feelings about different iterations of Lara Croft over others. While the “survivor” trilogy of games - 2013’s Tomb Raider through 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider - was a significant departure from the Lara seen in classic games, the arc of growth she went through as a character is essential to have in any future adaptation.
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Fans only have to look at classic Tomb Raider games to see a completely different depiction of Croft. In earlier games like Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, Lara is characterized as a wealthy heiress who uses her family’s wealth to fund expeditions for lost treasure. While this version of Lara Croft is a dual-wielding combat master and experienced explorer, she also lacks the depth that makes her recent characterization so interesting. Lara’s growing emotional depth and inner world make her unique from the Indiana Jones archetype that influenced her creation.
How The Tomb Raider TV Adaptation Can Avoid The Pitfalls of Films
The Tomb Raider film franchise is iconic, but not necessarily for the right reasons. The 2001 Tomb Raider film starring Angelina Jolie received critically negative reviews due to an excess of action sequences and plot threads that had no emotional impact. It could be argued that the film suffered from the same pitfalls as the original Tomb Raider games from which it was based. Making Lara Croft an immediately excellent and efficient explorer deprives fans of the messiness and emotional growth that comes with learning, failing, and surviving.
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