Summary
- Melissa Barrera, Mia Goth, and Pom Klementieff are great contenders to play Lara Croft in the new Tomb Raider adaptation.
- The chosen actor must embody a complex character with action skills while reflecting the modern and intense tones of the franchise.
- Priyanka Chopra's versatility could provide a fresh take on Lara Croft by introducing diversity and expanding the character's adventures.
The most important aspect of the upcoming Prime Video adaptation of Tomb Raider will be finding the right actor to portray Lara Croft. The adventure hero has been a constant of video games since she debuted almost thirty years ago, and has even made it to the big screen twice. In the past, it was Angelina Jolie and then Alicia Vikander who took on the role, playing very different versions of the character. Now, Tomb Raider is set to be Prime Video's next video game adaptation.
For the role, the show will need to find someone capable of embodying a surprisingly wide range of attributes. The natural action and adventure of the original games will need to be recreated as Croft survives challenges across the world. The right performer will be able to keep the character grounded despite the big bombastic elements of the franchise. They'll also need to be able to reflect the harsher, more grounded approach to the character that's been at the heart of recent games in the series. Given those requirements, here are ten actors who might be the perfect fit for Prime Video's new version of Tomb Raider.
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10 Melissa Barrera
Melissa Barrera Starred In Scream 6 & Abigail
The internet's current top pick for the role of Lara Croft is Melissa Barrera, who has proved to be a compelling lead with flexible adaptability. Barrera has proven her chops in horror films like Abigail and the Scream franchise, highlighting the ways she can maintain believability even when in the films embrace big tonal swings. A new Tomb Raider could put those skills to good use, allowing her to go big while still feeling like a three-dimensional character.
Barrera could craft a Lara Croft who remains grounded despite the dangerous and supernatural elements around her. If the new series borrows from the modern Tomb Raider games, Barrera's experience in the horror genre would fit well into those game's more intense beats. Barrera has also shown off some action skills in movies like Abigail, suggesting she could adapt well to the inevitable thrills and adventures of a Tomb Raider adaptation.
9 Mia Goth
Mia Goth Starred In X & Pearl
One of the defining elements of the modern Tomb Raiders games has been the intense and often horrifying edge Lara Croft has to endure during her adventures. If the show is going to mine those elements of the franchise for the upcoming Prime Video show, then Mia Goth might make perfect sense to pick up the dual pistols and play Lara Croft. Goth's expressive performances would make her ideal for the film if it relied more heavily on visuals than dialogue, which would make sense given Lara's solitary stretches exploring tombs and ruins.
Goth has exhibited an impressive range in Ti West's horror trilogy, which has showcased her potential as a hero and a villain alike. She has the physical presence one would want from Lara Croft, even if she doesn't have the prior action experience that other potential stars of the show possess. However, Goth could deliver a uniquely multifaceted performance as Croft, reflecting the darker edge of the character that existed in the original games.