The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic upon the film industry continues to shake up release dates and productions, as MGM has removed Tomb Raider 2 from its release calendar.
Originally slated to film in April 2020, the sequel was meant to hit theatres March 19, 2021. 2018’s successful reboot starring Alicia Vikander adapted the story of 2013’s video game reboot, seeing Lara Croft shipwrecked while investigating her father’s mysterious disappearance on an archaeological expedition. It received mixed but mostly positive reviews, and made $274.6 million at the international box office.
Work on Tomb Raider 2 was announced in April last year when Amy Jump (Kill List, Sightseers) was hired to pen the script. Her husband, Ben Wheatley (Rebecca) was later named director, replacing Roar Uthaug. Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl) is set to reprise the leading role, as is Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Ana Miller, Richard Croft’s business associate.
The first film left many plot threads for the sequel, with Lara poised to take on the mysterious Trinity organization and acquiring her signature twin pistols in a post-credits scene.
No explanation was given for Tomb Raider 2‘s delay, but given rumours that production would take place in South Africa, China, and various parts of Europe, it’s likely due to the unpredictability of filming at this time. Hopefully this is a simple formality and the project will be rescheduled at a later date.
