Back in November, a few months before production got under way on MGM and GK Films’Tomb Raiderreboot, producerGraham Kingrevealed in an interview that the movie will center on ayoung Lara Croftwho goes out searching for her long-lost father. Today we finally have word on who will play the father, withDominic Westsigning on to take this important role of Lord Richard Croft. Lara’s father is quite important in the mythology of the video game series, and it’s clear he’ll have quite the substantial role in this film.
The Hollywood Reporteralso reveals that the story centers on Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander) embarking on her first ever adventure to “finish her father’s research and uncover ancient secrets in order to clear his disgraced name.” In the video game series, Lord Richard Croft is both an aristocrat and an archaeologist. In the 2001 video game adaptation starringAngelina Jolie, Lord Richard Croft was played by the actress' real-life father,Jon Voight. Oddly enough, this isn’t the first timeDominic Westhas portrayedAlicia Vikander’s father on film, playing the father to her Vera Brittain character in 2015’sTestament of Youth.
The cast also includesWalton Gogginsas the primary villain and recent additionDaniel Wu(Into the Badlands), who came aboard earlier this month to play Lu Ren, a ship captain who helps Lara Croft throughout her journey to find her father. It remains to be seen what other main roles will be announced in the days and weeks ahead, as principal photography continues. MGM has set a August 10, 2025 release date forTomb Raider, which is the only movie set for release on that date, as of now. It also lands between Disney’sWreck-It Ralph 2on March 9 and 20th Century Fox’sAnubis, Sony’sPeter Rabbit, Lionsgate’sRobin Hoodand an untitled animated project from DreamWorks Animation and Blue Sky.
Last March, directorRoar Uthaugconfirmed that the movie is based on the currentvideo game series, which was rebooted by Crystal Dynamics in 2013. The Norwegian filmmaker praised the video game company for crafting a more realistic version of Lara Croft, which the movie adaptation plans to adhere to. He added that this new game series makes Lara Croft “feel like a real human being,” and that he hopes to bring some of his “Norwegian sensibilities” to the project as well. The filmmaker is working from a script by the in-demand writerGeneva Robertson-Dworet, who is also writingSherlock Holmes 3,Gotham City Sirensand aDungeons and Dragonsreboot.
Production startedin South Africa just a few days ago onTomb Raider, although it’s unclear how long filming is slated to last for.Dominic Westis coming off a big year in 2016, where he starred inGenius,Money Monster,Finding Doryand returned as Noah Solloway on Showtime’s hit drama seriesThe Affair. He is currently filmingThe SquarealongsideElisabeth Mossand he is also attached to star inI Feel FinealongsideBilly Boyd.
