Tomb Raider Series Production Halted After Sophie Turner's Injury
Production on the highly anticipated new Tomb Raider series has been abruptly halted following an injury sustained by star Sophie Turner. The actor, best known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, discovered a back problem while undergoing intensive physical training to portray the iconic archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft.
Minor Injury Pauses Filming
A spokesperson for Amazon MGM Studios confirmed the pause in production, describing Turner's injuries as "minor" and expressing optimism about a swift return to filming. "We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible," the spokesperson stated. It remains unclear whether the injury occurred specifically during filming or as a result of the demanding training regimen Turner has been undertaking since early 2025.
Gruelling Training Regimen Revealed
In January, Turner opened up about the exhaustive preparation required for the role, revealing she had been training for eight hours a day, five days a week since February of the previous year. "We've been doing eight hours a day, five days a week since February of last year, of training," she disclosed. Turner admitted that her lack of prior workout experience made the process particularly challenging.
"I also realised that it's much easier to build muscle if you've worked out before in your life, which I never had. So it's taken me months and months and months to get into good shape," Turner told The Julia Cunningham Show. Despite the physical demands, the actor expressed enthusiasm for playing a character so different from her previous roles, noting, "It's quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it."
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Vision
The new live-action series, created and showrun by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, features an impressive ensemble cast including Sigourney Weaver, Celia Imrie, and Jason Isaacs. Weaver will portray Evelyn Wallis, described as a high-flying woman eager to exploit Lara's talents, while Imrie takes on the role of Francine, head of advancement at the British Museum. Isaacs has been cast as Lara's uncle, Atlas DeMornay.
Waller-Bridge expressed her excitement about the project, stating, "Tomb Raider boasts a plethora of iconic characters. I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favourites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix. This cast is beyond my wildest dreams!"
Legacy of Previous Adaptations
Turner steps into a role previously brought to life by Angelina Jolie in the early 2000s films and more recently by Alicia Vikander in the 2018 reboot. Vikander's performance received significant praise despite the film's mixed critical reception and modest box office earnings of $275 million globally. A sequel was in development with Vikander set to return, but the project collapsed when MGM lost the rights to the franchise.
In 2024, Vikander expressed disappointment about not returning for a sequel, telling The Independent she was "sad" about the outcome and would have "of course" reprised the role had the project moved forward, adding, "I had so much fun." The new Amazon MGM series represents a fresh take on the beloved video game franchise, with production now temporarily suspended as Turner recovers from her training-related back injury.
