According to Eurogamer.net, Amazon’s upcoming live-action Tomb Raider television series, spearheaded by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, will actively “reinvent the franchise” by interconnecting with the video games rather than existing as a standalone story. The information comes from production company Story Kitchen’s website, which states the deal with Amazon MGM Studios will create a “unified storytelling universe” spanning the new show and games. Amazon’s game division is already assisting developer Crystal Dynamics on the next mainline Tomb Raider game, suggesting the show and game will be narratively linked. Actor Martin Bobb-Semple has also been cast in the series, with speculation pointing to him playing tech expert Zip. This approach marks a clear departure from the Angelina Jolie film era and differs from Netflix’s own animated Tomb Raider series, which continued the story of the recent game trilogy.
Amazon’s Playbook is Clear
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a TV show for Amazon. It’s a franchise play. They own the TV platform, they have a growing games division, and they’re stitching them together on purpose. Look at what they’re doing with Fallout—massive hit show that directly boosted interest and player counts in the old games. That’s the model. For Tomb Raider, they’re just baking that synergy in from the start. The goal isn’t just a good series; it’s to make the entire Tomb Raider IP more valuable and cohesive under Amazon’s roof. It’s a business strategy wearing a creative hat.
The Canon Question
But the big, looming question is: which games? Story Kitchen’s wording is cleverly vague. Are they unifying just the upcoming Crystal Dynamics game and the show? Or is this an attempt to weave in the classic Core Design games, the Survivor trilogy, and everything else? That seems… messy. My bet is they’ll primarily connect to the new game and maybe softly acknowledge the last trilogy, essentially creating a new central timeline for everything going forward. Trying to make everything canon with the 90s PS1 games would be a narrative nightmare. So they’ll probably pick a starting point and go from there.
Netflix Did It First, Sort Of
And let’s not forget Netflix is already down this path with The Legend of Lara Croft animated series. That one is explicitly a sequel to the games. So Amazon’s live-action show needs to differentiate itself. Having Phoebe Waller-Bridge involved suggests a sharper, perhaps more character-driven tone. The live-action format also reaches a different, potentially broader audience. But it puts pressure on them to get Lara Croft right. Sophie Turner is a known quantity, but can she define the role in a way that feels both fresh and authentic to gamers? That’s the real challenge.
Why This Could Actually Work
Gamers are notoriously skeptical of adaptations, and for good reason. Most are terrible. But interconnecting with the games is a smart olive branch. It signals respect for the source material in a way a total reboot doesn’t. Basically, it says, “This story *matters* to the overall lore.” If the show drops clues about the next game, or the game sets up the show, it creates a reason for fans to engage with both. That’s the theory, anyway. The execution is everything. If the show is weak, it drags the game down. If the game is delayed, it hurts the show’s momentum. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy. But in a crowded streaming landscape, maybe that’s exactly what Amazon needs.
