Tomb Raider fans united over ‘perfect’ live-action Lara Croft pick

Tomb Raider fans may have just decided on the perfect pick for a new live-action Lara Croft.

Lara Croft is an icon of gaming, having appeared in over a dozen Tomb Raider games since 1996, and many spin-offs outside of that.

She’s also appeared several times in live-action, having been played by both Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander in different film projects.

Tomb Raider received an animated Netflix show last year.

As casting for Amazon television series gets underway, Tomb Raider fans are locked into debates about who could play the titular adventurer.

Some have cited actresses like Ella Purnell or Hayley Atwell as perfect choices, but a new interview may have just revealed a new contender to pick up the role.

In an interview with Who What Wear, actress Simone Ashley has said she wants to do an action film as her next project, citing Tomb Raider as a potential role for her.

“I want to do an action movie, 1000%,” the 29-year-old actress told Who What Wear. “I want to train and do something really awesome like Tomb Raider or something.”

Netflix viewers may recognise Ashley for her roles as Kate in Bridgerton, or Olivia Hanan in Sex Education. She’s currently set to appear in the upcoming F1 with Brad Pitt, and will have a starring role in the thriller This Tempting Madness.

“I’d 100% watch,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter) in response.

“Oh my god imagine this queen as Lara Croft,” wrote another.

“Make Jonathan Bailey the hot rival/villain and I will watch it 1,000,000 times,” wrote another comment, a joke referring to the fact Bailey plays her on-screen husband in Bridgerton.

Amazon’s Tomb Raider series was officially picked up in May 2024, and is being developed by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Since then, news on the series has been pretty light, but it’s been rumoured that Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner could be playing the lead role.

Looking at Ashley’s body of work, however, she certainly possesses the confidence and wit required to pull off such a role. Consider us in full support of this casting!