Lara Croft is returning to our screens once again but not the CGI version. Much like the recent additions to the game series, the new #TombRaider movie will be a reboot, following the origins of our favourite archaeologist.
The original games and films have a notorious reputation due to the overly sexualised portrayal of female protagonist #LaraCroft. But the 2013 game reboot gave us a completely different version of Lara, and breathed new life in to the franchise as a whole.
It would be easy to assume that the latest film will chronicle the events that preceded the newer Tomb Raider games; but a recent interview with producer Graham King would suggest otherwise, raising questions about which version of Lara Croft we're actually going to get.
See also:
Alicia Vikander Teases Lara Croft's Fresh, Game-Inspired Origins In The 'Tomb Raider' Movie
This Tomb Raider Fan-Film Is The Live-Action Version Of Lara Croft You Were Waiting For
'She's Amazing': Video Game Lara Croft Expresses Approval Over Alicia Vikander's Casting In 'Tomb Raider'
So what does this mean for the upcoming 2018 movie? Will it be closer to the original games, or the new reboots? Will we get an Angelina Jolie lookalike, or a more feminist-friendly version? Let's take a look at the possibilities.
1. A Very Different Storyline
Richard Croft has always served as emotional motivation for Lara Croft's treasure-hunting escapades. But despite leading lady Alicia Vikander's statement that the 2018 movie will be "based on the rebooted game", there's one key difference between the two narratives: the death of Lara's father.
King has confirmed that his film will be following "a young Lara Croft in search to see if her father is dead or alive". This differs vastly from the new games, in which her father committed suicide when she was still a child. Now a new question stands: who's going to play Mr Croft?
2. Appropriate Clothing Choices
King's "back to the roots story" may be staying true to the original Tomb Raider franchise, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to completely disregard Lara 2.0.
Gamers applauded Square Enix's decision to distance their protagonist from her traditional depictions. They kept her signature leg holster and no-nonsense hairstyle, but downsized her generous bust and replaced her signature hot pants with a practical pair of regular pants. Considering Lara's costume change was so well received, it would be foolish to take a step backwards and revert to nineties sex icon.
3. Less Sex Appeal, More Grit
The realistic new Lara wasn't limited to her outfit. The 2003 game saw her put through some serious physical challenges, and you can definitely tell. Scaling crumbling ruins, being dragged through surging rapids and crawling through dank caves makes for one dishevelled explorer. Unlike Jolie, who maintained the flawless appearance of a Covergirl model for the entire film.
Hollywood is slowly embracing the a new era of grubby female heroines, with History's Vikings using actual dirt to decorate shield maidens' faces. It's highly likely that we'll see this new look carrier through to Tomb Raider.
4. New Weapons
Guns used to be cool. But you know what's really taken off in 2016? Gun control. By 2018, guns will be old news; an archaic fossil from the remnants of yesteryear.
Thankfully Lara won't be raiding tombs unarmed, thanks to the smash success of her new weapon of choice: her trusty bow and arrow. Lara's bow was a great addition to the 2013 game, and added a nice elven touch to her character. And practically speaking, any gamer can tell you that bows are far stealthier, don't require hard-to-scavenge ammo, and look way cooler. If the 2018 Tomb Raider is choosing practicality over sex appeal, the bow's the way to go.
5. A Serious New Lead
Alicia Vikander is set to replace Jolie as Lara, which tells us a lot about the tone of the film. In the original movies, Lara was a cheeky but ruthless action hero with a devilish glint in her eye. And while that was all well and good 15 years ago, it's probably not what we're going to get with the Tomb Raider reboot.
Vikander's recent haunting role as an austere but curious AI bot in Ex Machina truly exhibited her prowess as an actor. King had the following to say about the Vikander's role:
"It has a very emotional part to it and I think thats what Alicia found so interesting about it."
This emotional aspect is certainly reflected in the newer games. Despite her book smarts and incredibly vast skill set (wildcrafting, anyone?), Lara's pain and emotional struggles gave us a Lara who was more emotional, more raw and more human, removing her from the idealized fantasy pedestal she's lived on for the past 20 years.
Check out Square Enix's re-imagined Lara Croft from the latest title in the Tomb Raider games:
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[Source: Hey U Guys]