Tomb Raider movie star Alicia Vikander 'loved' Sophie Turner's first look reveal as Lara Croft

As we prep for the upcoming Prime Video Tomb Raider series, a past Lara Croft is giving praise to the new one!

As one of the most iconic video game characters of all time, adapting Lara Croft can be a challenge. 30 years after the original Tomb Raider launched the franchise, the pistol-toting adventuring archeologist has become a video game mainstay. She was not only a star in the game world, but also a mainstream hit, including some movies. 

Prime Video is set for a new Tomb Raider series, written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and starring Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner as Lara. The first images had Turner looking perfect in the costume. 

That won praise from Alicia Vikander. The Oscar-winning actress played Lara in 2018’s Tomb Raider, which adapted the 2010s reboot of the franchise that put Lara in a survival adventure. Speaking to Swedish publication MovieZine, Vikander said it felt like a dream to see Turner following in her footsteps.

"I loved it when I saw the first picture," Vikander said. "And Phoebe is so strong. It’s kind of come full circle now. Now you get to go back and celebrate the 90s, which I think is so fun. I think it’s a really smart choice."

Vikander's Tomb Raider film was a mild success when released in the spring of 2018, with plans for a sequel that fell through. However, Vikander is still proud of her time in the role (first played on screen by Angelina Jolie in a pair of early-2000s movies).

"I had a lot of fun making my film," she said. "Then there were a lot of twists and turns where I don't really know what happened. But it's crazy. It's been almost ten years since I filmed it now. So I hope in the same way that I hoped then, that I could bring in a new young generation. I absolutely believe that they will do the same now. It's a fantastic character."

It’s good that Vikander is still happy about the franchise. As it happens, she’s not the only past Lara liking the new version!

What past Lara Croft actress is appearing in the new Tomb Raider show?

The Sun tabloid excited Tomb Raider fans by posting images of actress Keeley Hawes filming in London for the new Tomb Raider series. The veteran actress is a famous face in British TV, with starring roles in hits such as Line of Duty, Ashes to Ashes, and Bodyguard. She also voiced Lara for several video games, starting with 2006’s Tomb Raider: Legends.

While nothing’s confirmed, it’s speculated Hawes appears in flashbacks as Lara’s mother. That would be a genius bit of casting that fits the show perfectly. Seeing Hawes passing the torch to Turner only adds to the character’s standing in video game history. 

We have to wait a while before the show premieres, but the fact that two past Lara Crofts are backing Turner only proves she has the stuff to be the next Tomb Raider!

Tomb Raider is now filming. The show is expected to premiere on Prime Video sometime in 2027.