5 Minutes
Sigourney Weaver Eyes a New Franchise After Pandora
Long associated with iconic genre roles, Sigourney Weaver is reportedly in negotiations to join Prime Video's upcoming Tomb Raider series. According to Deadline, the move comes as Weaver wraps up her time in James Cameron's Avatar saga with the film Avatar: Fire and Ash. While a final contract has not been signed, sources say discussions are underway for Weaver to appear in the streaming adaptation of the celebrated video-game franchise.
Casting, Creative Team, and Production Timeline
Sophie Turner is already set to headline the series as Lara Croft, while Phoebe Waller-Bridge serves as writer and executive producer. Chad Hodge will co-showrun with Waller-Bridge and Jonathan van Tulleken, who is also directing and executive producing. Amazon MGM Studios is producing, and filming is scheduled to begin on January 19. The series is a collaboration between Amazon, Story Kitchen, and Crystal Dynamics—the studio behind the Tomb Raider games—and also lists a broad slate of executive producers from both the gaming and television worlds.
The specifics of Weaver’s role haven’t been revealed and Prime Video declined to comment on casting. If the deal proceeds, the series will add another major entry to Weaver’s long career that began with Alien and later included blockbuster work on the Avatar films.
Why This Casting Makes Sense
There’s a poetic logic to a star of Weaver’s pedigree joining Tomb Raider. Weaver’s fame rests on commanding performances in high-concept franchise cinema—she helped define modern sci-fi and action heroines in Alien, and later moved into epic blockbuster territory with Avatar. That history fits well with Tomb Raider, a property that straddles action-adventure, mystery, and a strong female lead in Lara Croft.
Comparisons to earlier Tomb Raider film adaptations are inevitable. Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander each brought different tones to the role: Jolie’s Lara was larger-than-life and franchise-ready, while Vikander’s version leaned into a grittier, origin-story realism. This new series—shaped by Waller-Bridge’s sharp writing and Turner’s star power—appears to be aiming for a hybrid: cinematic spectacle with character-driven storytelling.
Industry Context and What This Means for Streaming
The push to adapt established video-game IPs for prestige television is part of a broader streaming trend: platforms are investing in recognizable brands that can attract built-in audiences while offering long-form storytelling opportunities. Tomb Raider’s partnership with Crystal Dynamics signals a desire to respect the game canon while expanding it for television. For Amazon, casting a veteran name like Weaver would be a strategic move to add gravitas and cross-generational appeal.
Trivia for fans: Crystal Dynamics led the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, which reshaped Lara Croft as a more human, survival-focused protagonist—an angle the new series seems poised to explore further. Early community chatter suggests gamers are cautiously optimistic, especially given Waller-Bridge’s knack for character-driven scripts.
"Weaver’s potential involvement would bridge old-school franchise gravitas with modern streaming ambition," says cinema historian Elena Marquez. "Her presence signals that Amazon wants a series that feels both cinematic and rooted in strong performances—something viewers now expect from premium streaming adaptations."
What to Watch Next
Beyond Tomb Raider, Weaver has a busy slate: she’s set to appear in Avatar: Fire and Ash this December and is attached to other projects reportedly in the pipeline. For viewers and fans, the Tomb Raider series offers a chance to watch how a beloved game universe adapts under the stewardship of high-profile creators and actors.
Whether Weaver’s negotiation ends in a signed contract or a high-profile pass, the conversation itself highlights how streaming platforms are continuing to lure legacy talent into TV projects. The coming months—especially the January production start—should make the series’ tone and cast clearer. Either way, this is shaping up to be one of the year’s most watched adaptations for both gamers and general audiences seeking a fresh Lara Croft.
Short concluding note: If Weaver signs on, expect a Tomb Raider that aims for blockbuster scale while leaning into the character-driven storytelling modern audiences crave.
Comments
atomwave
Wow, Sigourney in Tomb Raider? unexpected but kinda perfect. Hope they dont waste her, pls. excited!
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