Sophie Turner is Lara Croft: Amazon debuts first look as Tomb Raider production begins

Amazon Prime Video released its first look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft on Wednesday, marking the start of production on the highly anticipated Tomb Raider television series. The image shows Turner in the iconic adventurer's classic ensemble: the blue leotard, brown shorts, signature red sunglasses, and dual pistols that defined the character in the original video games developed by Core Design between 1996 and 2003.

The reveal represents a deliberate return to the franchise's roots, with Turner's costume leaning heavily into the aesthetic fans remember from the PlayStation-era games rather than the more grounded approach taken in Alicia Vikander's 2018 film adaptation.

A Star-Studded Ensemble Takes Shape

The production has assembled a notable cast around Turner. Sigourney Weaver will play Evelyn Wallis, described by Amazon MGM Studios as "a mysterious, high-flying woman who is keen to exploit Lara's talents." Jason Isaacs takes on the role of Atlas DeMornay, Lara's uncle, while Bill Paterson portrays Winston, the longtime Croft family butler, and Martin Bobb-Semple plays tech support specialist Zip—all characters from the video game canon.

Additional cast members include Jack Bannon as Lara's pilot, Gerry, Celia Imrie as British Museum executive Francine, Sasha Luss as a fierce new rival, and August Wittgenstein as Lukas, "an illegal raider who shares history with Lara in more ways than one."

Waller-Bridge's Vision

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the Emmy-winning creator of Fleabag, serves as creator, writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner alongside Chad Hodge. Jonathan Van Tulleken, known for his work on Shōgun, directs.

"I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favourites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix," Waller-Bridge said in a statement. "This cast is beyond my wildest dreams."

Turner expressed similar enthusiasm when her casting was first announced: "I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft. She's such an iconic character, who means so much to so many."

The series aims to "reinvent the franchise on a massive scale" and interconnect "live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe," according to Amazon MGM Studios. The announcement comes on the heels of two new Tomb Raider games revealed at The Game Awards in December: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, set for 2026, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, expected in 2027.

No premiere date has been announced, though industry observers anticipate a release in late 2026 or early 2027.