Alicia Vikander's 'Tomb Raider 2' Gets Release Date

Warner Bros./MGM dates 'Tomb Raider 2' for March 2021, hiring indie filmmaker Ben Wheatley to direct what is a sure winner for female representation on-screen

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 'Tomb Raider' (CREDIT: Warner Bros./MGM)

by Jack Linsdell

When most IP/franchises get rebooted in our current marketplace (because audiences would rather see the "actual Jurassic Park" rather than a "rip-off of Jurassic Park"), they often turn out worse (Men in Black: International) than better (Tomb Raider). And, although general audiences and critics may have turned there noses up at Alicia Vikander's reboot of the popular video game character originally played by Angelina Jolie, giving it mixed-negative reviews, it still made a solid $276 million on a $90 million budget. It was, however, a disappointment relative to expectations, but mostly because like many fine examples of movies last year (Atomic Blonde, The 5th Wave etc.), audiences ignored/panned movies that had solid presentations of females onscreen and were explicitly setting up a "strong but vulnerable" female protagonist at the heart of her own action franchise. 

There is not enough female-led/made action franchises in Hollywood, and when audiences complain that James Bond remains a man yet ignore Atomic Blonde they become hypocritical and the direct cause of why female presentation in movies is suffering set back upon set back. And, while I enjoyed all these movies more than you, they were all at least solid, three-star action flicks that were explicitly setting up future instalments. Even if you think the film is weaker than me, by supporting it you give the studios the encouragement to make sequels and create more female-led series (just see Wonder Woman > Wonder Woman 1984) as a result. So, while I became depressed that The 5th Wave would not get a second instalment, we received news yesterday that Alicia Vikander's Tomb Raider (2018) is getting a sequel much to my delight. 

So, it seems audiences have a second opportunity to support the creation of a major female-led action franchise, and even if the series produces a solid, three-star, entertaining action-adventure every three years that earns $250+ million on a $50-90 million budget, then that's a winner for female representation in movies. And, believe me it's your duty to turn up in theatres in March 2021 for Tomb Raider 2 starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft/Tomb Raider again. This one is directed by an unusual choice in indie filmmaker Ben Wheatley. The director of such low-budget, gritty dramas like High Rise which are unique in their style and form, is at the helm of this sequel from a script from his reoccurring writer/wife Amy Jump. And as reports go, Warner Bros. have fled to scene leaving MGM with the burden. So, we have a female writer for a sequel to a successful reboot that sets up a strong female-protagonist in potentially her own little series/trilogy at least. 

What's reassuring is that Wheatley is an unorthodox choice, and not used to franchise movies so it'll be interesting how he brings his artistic/indie sensibilities to a blockbuster action movie. It's guaranteed to be at least refreshingly interesting, and if Ric Roman Waugh's helming of Angel Has Fallen is to be taken as an example, then hopefully very good too. Wheatley will probably take the character and IP back to it's roots, by making an interesting character-drama first, action-adventure movie second, which is exactly the sort of quality this material needs. But, we will watch this space. 

So, to say nothing of the plot established at the end of Tomb Raider, we have a rough idea this sequels direction, but it's overall quality/tone and artistic choices are still to be revealed. However, like John Wick 4 and Mission: Impossible 7, Tomb Raider 2 will be another sequel to premiere in 2021. But, whereas those are all male-centric/made series, your money should go to making Alicia Vikander into the new Tom Cruise by giving her the opportunity to have Lara Croft as a led character to her own action franchise. As ever, folks. It's up to you.