The Dream Team Behind the Series

Tomb Raider is an upcoming television series developed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Amazon Prime Video, based on the action-adventure video game franchise created by Toby Gard and Paul Douglas. 

The name Phoebe Waller-Bridge alone is enough to generate excitement. The creator of Fleabag — one of the most acclaimed TV series of the last decade — is now turning her sharp, witty, emotionally devastating writing to the world's most iconic female adventurer. Waller-Bridge believes that with Tomb Raider she can do something "dangerous and exciting," and has emphasized the enormous number of Lara Croft fans she aims to satisfy. 

Waller-Bridge serves as creator, writer, executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Chad Hodge, with Jonathan Van Tulleken — director of Shōgun — serving as lead director and executive producer. 

Sophie Turner as Lara Croft — A Competitive Search

By late October 2024, Sophie Turner and Lucy Boynton were in the running for the role of Lara Croft, with Turner entering negotiation the following month. She was officially confirmed in September 2025. 

Sophie Turner won the role beating out Lucy Boynton, Emma Corrin, and Mackenzie Davis — a testament to just how coveted the part was in Hollywood. "I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft," Turner said when her casting was announced. 

The Game of Thrones actress — who delivered an Emmy-nominated performance as Sansa Stark — brings a rare combination of vulnerability and steely determination to her roles. For a character like Lara Croft, who is both intellectually brilliant and physically formidable, Turner feels like a genuinely inspired choice.

An All-Star Supporting Cast

The ensemble assembled around Turner is nothing short of extraordinary. The supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver as Evelyn Wallis, "a mysterious, high-flying woman keen to exploit Lara's talents"; Jason Isaacs as Atlas DeMornay, Lara's uncle; Martin Bobb-Semple as Zip, Lara's long-standing tech support and friend; Bill Paterson as Winston, the Croft family butler; Paterson Joseph as Thomas Warner, a senior government official brought in to clean up an almighty mess; Sasha Luss as Sasha, a fierce and deeply competitive new adversary; and August Wittgenstein as Lukas, an illegal raider who shares history with Lara in more ways than one. 

First Look: Knives, Pickaxes, and Surrey Woods

Production began on January 19, 2026 — and the first set photos from the Surrey woods shoot have already set the internet ablaze. Set photos reveal Sophie Turner as Lara Croft alongside Martin Bobb-Semple as Zip, with Lara spotted wielding a mysterious new dagger and a retractable pickaxe — hinting at intense close-quarters combat sequences. Zip's role has also expanded beyond comms, with the character seen actively picking Lara up on a motorcycle. Filming locations include Surrey woods, featuring dramatic night scenes and confirmed knife fight sequences. 

Faithful to the Games — Both Old and New

The series features both canon characters from the video game franchise and new characters created specifically for the show  — a balance that suggests the writers respect the lore while giving themselves creative freedom to expand it.

The timing is also significant for the franchise as a whole. Two new Tomb Raider games — Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst — are slated for 2026 and 2027 respectively , meaning Amazon's series arrives alongside a full revival of the gaming franchise itself.

When Can We Watch It?

There is no official release date yet. With filming having started in January 2026, there is a chance the series could be ready for late 2026 — but a first half of 2027 arrival seems more realistic. 

With the rights firmly in Amazon's grip, the plans have shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe — featuring new game releases and what will probably be a future movie reboot — currently centered on this TV series. 

The Verdict: This Could Be the Best Tomb Raider Yet

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's writing. Sophie Turner's range. Sigourney Weaver as a mysterious villain. Jonathan Van Tulleken's direction. Direct involvement from Crystal Dynamics. A prestige Prime Video budget. By every available metric, this Tomb Raider series has the ingredients to be not just the best adaptation of the franchise — but one of the best video game TV series ever made.

Lara Croft has never been in better hands.

The tombs aren't going to raid themselves. Coming 2027 — probably.