Phoebe Waller-Bridge finally turns in first Lara Croft: Tomb Raider script for big budget adaptation of the video game - five years after signing $60M Amazon deal

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By Alison Boshoff

Published: 10:57 EDT, 23 August 2024 | Updated: 10:59 EDT, 23 August 2024

It is almost five years since Phoebe Waller-Bridge signed her first $60 million deal with Amazon to develop, write – and possibly star in – some blockbuster television series.

And this summer the perfectionist actress and writer (who describes herself as 'creatively controlling') has finally turned in her first script, for a big budget adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game.

Amazon head Vernon Saunders says: 'We've got great material. Phoebe is really good. We're really excited. 

'We've got to find our Lara Croft, so that global-wide search will start sooner rather than later.'

The video game has already spawned a number of underwhelming screen adaptations.

It is almost five years since Phoebe Waller-Bridge signed her first $60 million deal with Amazon to develop, write – and possibly star in – some blockbuster television series 

And this summer the perfectionist actress and writer has finally turned in her first script, for a big budget adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game (Angelina Jolie seen as Lara Croft in 2001 film)

Two best-forgotten movies in 2001 and 2003, starring Angelina Jolie and another in 2018 with Alicia Vikander playing Lara.

An animated series, featuring the voice of Hayley Atwell, is due out in October.

Waller-Bridge is aware that her process hasn't been exactly speedy, and she has taken on some acting in non-Amazon projects, notably Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny and the animation If, in the meantime.

Her deal was renewed in January 2023, which surprised some in Hollywood who felt that the streamer was 'saving face' by continuing with it.

However Waller-Bridge explained last year: 'They've been with me along this process, where I'm like: 'I'm getting there, but I want it to be ****ing amazing.'

Her first project for Amazon was to have been writing and starring in their Mr & Mrs Smith TV series, alongside Donald Glover. 

However she walked away in September 2021.

She said in an interview last year: 'I worked on that show for six months fully in heart and mind and really cared about it – still care about it. 

There was another film which was released in 2018 with Alicia Vikander taking on the role of Lara

Amazon head Vernon Saunders says: 'We've got great material. Phoebe is really good. We're really excited. We've got to find our Lara Croft, so that global-wide search will start sooner rather than later'

Waller-Bridge is aware that her process hasn't been exactly speedy, and she has taken on some acting in non-Amazon projects, notably Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny and the animation If, in the meantime

Her deal was renewed in January 2023, which surprised some in Hollywood who felt that the streamer was 'saving face' by continuing with it

'Creative collaboration is like a marriage, and some marriages don't work out.'

Glover said: 'It might've just been cultural. 

'I don't think we ever felt comfortable enough with each other.'

She has also been working on a TV series based on the Claudia Lux novel Sign Here.

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