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THE TOMB — It’s been announced that the popular video game character Lara Croft will get a reboot on the big screen.
Angelina Jolie played Croft in two films, but a new franchise is about to get underway, and even though Hollywood has refused to listen to them so far, the KSL.com movie guys Travis Poppleton and John Clyde are going to give their picks of who should be cast as Croft.
Here is a list of 10 actresses these guys think would be perfect for the part.
Travis’ picks:
Travis: Even after going through John’s admittedly solid list, Browning is still my favorite of all our picks. She looks the part, she’s proven she can do action and she is continually exploring new and courageous limits as an actress. She might be a tough sell to executives who blame her for the financially disappointing “Sucker Punch,” but I think she’s grown as a leading talent and is ready for another crack at superstardom. John: I’m not going to say I hate this pick, but I’m not sold. Browning is a pretty solid actress, and usually I’m not concerned about a look thing — it makes me sound shallow — but I guess I’m going to sound shallow. I just don’t see her playing the part.
Travis: I admit I’m submitting her recent accolades as an actress as evidence she’s moved beyond “Die Another Day.” But most of us hardly even remember that movie, and if we’re forced to, we forgot it was Pike fighting Halle Berry at the end. Pike may have proven she’s grown up as an actress, but I think she’s also ready to prove herself a spin-kicking, gun-slinging spelunker.
John: I like this pick. I’ve always liked Pike, and she caught my attention in “Jack Reacher” and then blew me away in “Gone Girl.” Hopefully her Croft wouldn’t be as dark as her Amy Dunne, but she can pull off the physicality and be a convincing Tomb Raider.
Travis: OK, this one is a bit on the nose, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be considered. It’s like at the end of “Lost” where suddenly (spoilers ahead) Jack wasn’t the guy because it would be too obvious to viewers. Yet, the entire story was about him becoming the guy, so suddenly pawning that role off to Hurley didn’t make any sense at all — all because we wanted to avoid the obvious. Well, she’s obvious for a reason. Knightley would be great as Croft.
John: I don’t have a lot to argue here. She’s British and considering she was an action star in “King Arthur” I’d be OK with this pick. It also doesn’t hurt she’s a really good actress.
Gemma Arterton**Travis:** Poor Arterton. She’s ended up in some truly terrible movies, and as a result, she’s probably not on anyone’s radar for Croft. That said, I think audiences would be willing to forgive a “Prince of Persia,” and even a “Hansel & Gretel” if she could stick the landing with Croft. Will I be campaigning for this? Absolutely not. But there’s more to Arterton than her resume suggests, and “Tomb Raider” may be exactly the material she needs to prove that point.
John: I like this pick. I actually had Arterton on my original list and then changed my mind. If we’re going for the look, then she’s spot on, but more importantly she can do the action. To me pulling off the intense physicality for the role is much more important than a supposed “look.” This is pretty clear with my list, but despite “Hansel & Gretel” being a terrible movie it proved that Arterton could be Croft.
Travis: If I were a betting man, Robbie is being considered for Croft by at least a few studio higher-ups. The “Wolf of Wall Street” actress has recently signed on to play fan-favorite Harley Quinn in the upcoming “Suicide Squad," which means she’ll already be training for high-flying action. The transition could be a relatively quick one, and the roles are different enough that she’d avoid any accusations of picking the same parts. She’s really kind of perfect for this.
John: It’s true, Robbie is pretty perfect for this, but she’s in everything lately. Give someone else a turn.
John’s picks:
John: This choice is just way too obvious to me. Blunt is British; she’s a great actress and can offer some great comedic timing and she’s an action heroine already. Did anyone see “Edge of Tomorrow”? I have a feeling she can get herself out of any perilous situation and save about 10 other people in the process. While most of these picks are good from both lists, I’ll be honest that I’ll be a little bummed out if it’s not Blunt.
Travis: Yes, absolutely. I’d love to see this. Blunt is ready to headline an action movie and would be a great successor and contrast to Jolie’s very fun portrayal of the video game heroine. I could point to examples like “Edge of Tomorrow” and “Looper,” as evidence of her ability, but you were already nodding when you saw her name.
Hayley Atwell**John:** I am not a big Marvel fan, but with that said, I think Hayley Atwell is great as Agent Carter, and I’d be more than happy to see her as Croft. Again, she’s British, and she can obviously pull off the action. She’d have to get a little dirtier and messy to play Croft, but I have faith she can do it.
Travis: This is a tough one for me. I really love what Marvel is doing with Agent Carter, but I’m often too distracted by Atwell’s portrayal to really get on board with the story. So, on the one hand, I’d love to see her take an iconic role like Croft and own it, ultimately converting fence-sitters like me to Team Atwell. On the other hand, I’d hate to be a fence-sitter with another great character because the performance just isn’t there. I guess I’m on the fence with this as well.
John: This is kind of my wild-card pick. Dormer can obviously do the physicality considering her “Game of Thrones” character, but it was the latest Hunger Games film that really sold me. I admit I’d never have even considered her, but something about that small roll in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” totally got me on board.
Travis: This is a nice nod to “Game of Thrones” fans, but when I’ve seen Dormer’s efforts in other projects like “Rush” and “Mockingjay,” I wasn’t left thinking she’s ready to headline a summer tentpole. I could be wrong, and frankly I’d love to be, but as it stands, this is probably my least favorite pick on the list.
John: So Naomie Harris hasn’t really shown off her physicality and action star prowess yet, but I think she’s about to. We got a very quick glimpse at it in “Skyfall,” but I think you’re about to see it full force in the upcoming “Spectre.” Something about her confidence and the way she carries herself I think she’d make a great Croft.
Travis: I’d be interested to see what Harris could do with Croft. Her Tia Dalma from “Pirates” was a bit over the top, but her portrayal of Moneypenny in “Skyfall” proved she could slip into established roles and make them her own. Could be amazing.
John: Many may not know Vinson, and if you do it’s probably because of her role in “Step Up 3D,” but there’s a different movie that made me choose her. Vinson starred in the bizarre and twisting horror film “You’re Next” and for anyone who’s seen it I think you totally understand why I think she plays the iconic video game heroine. She can do action, and she actually has some range as an actress.
Travis: At first, this pick just made me laugh, but from an action perspective I have to give this one to John. Vinson is an athlete who would sell the physical demands of Croft better than anyone on this list. There are better actresses on this list, sure, but as far as lending credibility to the quick, explosive attacks Croft will probably unleash on her enemies, Vinson could be the right woman for the job.
There you have it, 10 actresses that could play Croft. What do you think of John and Travis’ list? Have they made some good choices or is Hollywood wise to ignore them? Let us know.
John has been writing about movies, news, sports and pretty much anything awesome for more than five years. John is the co-host of the Flix Junkies podcast and will always entertain you with his stories. John is an alumnus of both Utah Valley University and BYU. He, his wife and their two children call Salt Lake City home.
About the Author: Travis Poppleton
Travis Poppleton has been covering movie news, film reviews and live events for Deseret News and KSL.com since 2010 and co-hosts the FlixJunkies podcast. You can contact him at tspoppleton@gmail.com.
