Hayley Atwell will be taking on the mantle of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, and her rendition of the iconic archaeologist could do something neither Angelina Jolie nor Alicia Vikander accomplished. Atwell is just the most recent in a long line of actors who have played Lara Croft in various Tomb Raider video games, movies, and now shows. Angelina Jolie first brought the character to life in 2001 with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Alicia Vikander rebooted the live-action side of the franchise with 2018's Tomb Raider. Atwell, however, could soon sur them both.

Both Lara Croft and Tomb Raider have changed significantly over the past 28 years. In that time, there have been various reboots, restarted continuities, and more. Despite all the franchise's ups and downs, however, Lara has remained one of the most iconic characters in gaming, even if she struggles to find the same popularity in film and television. Now, Hayley Atwell's time voicing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, could finally show general audiences why she's such a beloved character, and she could even turn the series into one of the best shows on Netflix.

The Legend Of Lara Croft Is Set In The Same Universe As The Tomb Raider Games

Tomb Raider has been a multimedia franchise ever since Angelina Jolie brought Lara Croft to life in live-action in 2001. The Legend of Lara Croft, however, will be the first installment to merge the video games with a serial adaptation, as it is part of the same canon as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and takes place directly after it in the Tomb Raider timeline. The previous three movies were additions to the games rather than continuations, as Jolie's version was an adaptation of Top Crow's Tomb Raider comics, whereas Vikander's movie was a direct adaptation of 2013's Tomb Raider game.

Though Lara has a new voice, she's the same character, which should make Atwell's time in the Tomb Raider franchise quite unique.

The Lara was recast for The Legend of Lara Croft, and Atwell is taking over for Camilla Luddington, it's still by far the most connected to the games. Though Lara has a new voice, she's the same character, which should make Atwell's time in the Tomb Raider franchise quite unique.

How Hayley Atwell’s Lara Croft Will Be Different From Jolie And Vikander’s Versions

What makes Atwell's version of Lara Croft so different from Vikander's and Jolie's is the fact that The Legend of Lara Croft already has a huge amount of backstory baked into it. Since it's continuing the same story told in the Survivor Trilogy of games, Lara has already experienced several massive adventures and gone through quite a bit of character development. She's already reckoned with important parts of her childhood, and she's already learned what she's capable of in combat and the wild. The Legend of Lara Croft won't have to waste any time establishing who Lara is and her backstory.

Netflix’s Lara Croft Show Can Be The Definitive Tomb Raider Adaptation That Still Hasn’t Happened

Even after three live-action movies, there isn't one definitive adaptation of Tomb Raider. Both of Jolie's movies, as well as Tomb Raider (2018) have been criticized heavily, and none of them sured a score of 55% among audiences or critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The Legend of Lara Croft could be the first non-video game entry to the Tomb Raider franchise to be widely praised precisely because it continues the games instead of adapting them. It won't feel like The Legend of Lara Croft is treading old ground, something all three movies were criticized for, because it is telling a new chapter of Lara's story.

If being a direct continuation of the games is as much of an advantage as it seems to be, The Legend of Lara Croft could a growing list of esteemed video game adaptations. Animated shows like Arcane or Castlevania have found success among both fans of their respective genres and general audiences because they add to the existing lore in such a compelling way. If Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft can do the same, it could more than earn the title of being the definitive Tomb Raider adaptation.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes