Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is the Netflix series adaptation of the video game series. Up to 2023, there are 19 Tomb Raider games in the series, so the series has a solid foundation to start from. At Player.com, we understand that these games follow different plotlines, and the protagonist, Lara Croft, takes on a slightly different personality every couple of games.
To give you an idea of how old Tomb Raider games are, the first title was released in 1996 for the PS1, PC, and Sega Saturn. Chronologically following that title are:
- Tomb Raider II (Released in 1997 for the PS1 and PC).
- Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (Released in 1998 for the PS1 and PC).
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (Released in 1999 for the PS1, PC, and Dreamcast).
- Tomb Raider Reloaded (Released in 2023 for Android and iOS Devices)
Lara Croft’s tales are refreshed every two–three years at most. Sometimes, a new game is released annually. This is just evidence that the writers of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft won’t run out of inspiration anytime soon. So, we’re expecting the series to last at least two seasons.
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Three Distinct Timelines to Follow
The three timelines to follow in the Tomb Raider games are the original, legend, and survivor timelines. To get an idea of Lara Croft’s journey, below are the finer details. If you’re interested in the games, a controller is perfect, so it doesn’t make the list of games for keyboards and mice. That said, we’ve broken down all three timelines.
- The Original Timeline: The original timeline began with the original game, Tomb Raider, which was released in 2001. This timeline was concluded by 2006’s Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.
- The Legend Timeline: This timeline began in 2006 when Tomb Raider: Legend was released. It ended in 2008, after Tomb Raider: Underworld was released.
- The Survivor Timeline: Finally, the survivor timeline was kickstarted by 2013’s Tomb Raider reboot. The timeline ended when Shadow of the Tomb Raider was released in 2018. Sure, this timeline doesn’t include horror games like Dark Deception. However, this timeline brings some horror vibes to the series because Lara literally survives by the skin of her teeth.
The Story Behind Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Series
In Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft series, viewers will pick off right after the 2013–2018 game trilogy. That means the new story may be inspired by the games, but they won’t determine its direction. An upcoming game similar to the Tomb Raider games that we want to see a movie adaptation is Star Wars Outlaws.
Moving on, Lara Croft is a goal-getter so the series will follow her new adventures. Along the way, new characters, old faces, and powerful, unfamiliar antagonists may be introduced — who knows? Future Tomb Raider games might be inspired by it. That said, the new series will bridge the gap between the survivor, legend, and the original timeline.
First Impressions: Slick-Looking Animations
Animations in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft are smooth, vibrant, and detailed. If you’re looking for another animated Netflix series similar to it, picture the Castlevania series. Trevor moved with such grace and agility that we thought he was on Nitrous. This isn’t surprising, considering Powerhouse Animation’s involvement with the production.
For viewers who don’t know the studio, they’re the creative minds behind Blood of Zeus, Seis Manos, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and even Castlevania. The series is also co-produced by Crystal Dynamics, DJ2 Entertainment, Tractorpants, and Legendary Television.
Looking back at Powerhouse Animation’s portfolio, it’s easy to see that they love works of fiction. So, we can expect some form of magical elements in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. This includes legends, spells, curses, and myths. We can also expect to see Lara solve plenty of puzzles on her adventures. Hopefully, the studio will do the video games justice by giving the protagonist ingenious challenges to beat.
Trailer Details
The trailer shows Lara aiming her bow to shoot a target. When she takes the final breath to stabilise her bow, we’re taken on several trips down memory lane. We flashback to Lara jumping into a dark hole, staring at an art piece, looking at a raging fire, and finally examining some form of magical wings. After the flashbacks, the teaser takes us back to the present, where she finally takes the shot. This teaser was dropped during Netflix’s inaugural DROP 01 event, which is a showcase of the streaming platform’s upcoming shows.
Memorable Mentions
There have been three movies released so far and they’re all based on video games. Angelina Jolie starred in two of these movies, namely, Lara Craft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and Lara Craft: Tomb Raider. A 2018 Tomb Raider Reboot also came and went, though Warner Brothers is currently developing the sequel.
Our Final Say
While no Tomb Raider game makes the list of the best RPGs of all time, there are still many phenomenal titles in the timelines. Unlike the games, the movies have been far less entertaining. However, this will be the first time that Crystal Dynamics is releasing an animated series based on the legends of the Tomb Raider. So, we hope this adaptation will be great. If you’re a fan of the shooting mechanics in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, you should consider playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Show on Netflix?
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is an upcoming TV series that’s developed by Netflix. It’s an animated adventure like Castlevania: Nocturne but without too many fantasy elements. The series is based on the Tomb Raider game franchise, developed by Crystal Dynamics. In this upcoming show, Hayley Atwell stars as the voice of Lara Croft. She was also the voice behind Jonah Maiva, Lara’s closest companion in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
When Will Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Be Released?
The animation series will be released in 2024. However, we don’t know the exact date in 2024 that it’ll be released, so we can only wait for Netflix to announce it. Hopefully, it’ll be in Q1 or Q2, so early 2024 rather than the second half of next year.
Who Are the Key Producers Behind Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft?
Based on the Tomb Raider games, the Netflix series is written by Tasha Huo. So, we can expect little difference between the games and movies, but the series will continue Lara’s story. The producers are Dmitri M. Johnson, Howard Bliss, Stephan Bugaj, and Jacob Robinson under Tractor Pants.