Sophie Turner is set to take over the role of Lara Croft, a character that has stumbled under the weight of previous Hollywood attempts. Prime Video announced Turner, best known for Game of Thrones, will star in its upcoming Tomb Raider series. She follows Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, who each carried the franchise without securing lasting success. Turner beat out other contenders like Mackenzie Davis and Emma Mackey, but winning the part is only the beginning of the challenge.

Turner praised the character and the show’s creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, calling the role iconic and promising to give it her all. Waller-Bridge responded with typical buzzwords about passion and scale, hype that does little to address the question everyone is asking: can this series avoid the same fate as the failed film sequels before it?

The project has been in development limbo since 2023, following the scrapping of the Alicia Vikander sequel. Production is now set for early 2026, though delays raise doubts about the show’s future. More concerning is Turner’s political baggage. She moved back to the UK citing dissatisfaction with American gun laws and abortion rulings, openly stating she cannot imagine raising children in such an environment. She also declared she never wants to live in the United States again. Does anyone believe a star with such divisive views will boost a global franchise meant to draw broad audiences?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s involvement compounds the risk. Her style is polarizing and politically charged, turning off as many viewers as it attracts. Her role in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was absolute cringer, and her feminist rescripting of No Time to Die all but ruined Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007. The Tomb Raider character once symbolized fearless adventure. Now, with Turner’s outspoken politics and Waller-Bridge’s hit or miss capabilities, will the show speak to anyone beyond a narrow, ideological audience?

This franchise has already failed to reignite excitement multiple times. Angelina Jolie’s films hit a wall after a promising start, and Alicia Vikander’s reboot barely made a dent. Sophie Turner’s track record is spotty, marked by a blockbuster flop with Dark Phoenix and underwhelming follow-ups. She may have name recognition, but does she have the draw to resurrect Lara Croft?

Prime Video is gambling on a franchise that once thrived on simplicity and mass appeal. Instead, it’s landing on a lead and a creative team tied to polarizing politics. Can the Tomb Raider series escape from the shadow of failed sequels and political distractions to become a hit? Or will it sink under the weight of those same divisions, alienating the very audience it needs to succeed?

The real question: Why would a franchise desperate for broad appeal center itself on figures who are more likely to drive viewers away? This looks less like an inspired choice and more like a gamble that may not pay off. Lara Croft’s legacy deserves better.

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