Production Halted for Amazon MGM's Tomb Raider Series Due to Sophie Turner Injury
Production for the live-action Tomb Raider series, an Amazon MGM Studios adaptation for Prime Video, has been temporarily paused due to an injury sustained by lead actress Sophie Turner. The studio confirmed the halt as a precautionary measure to allow Turner time to recover.
Production Halt Details
Amazon MGM Studios issued a statement indicating that filming was paused as a precaution. A representative for Prime Video confirmed the injury as minor, noting that it involved the aggravation of a pre-existing back condition. The studio did not specify if the injury occurred on set.
The studio confirmed the halt as a precautionary measure to allow Turner time to recover.
The anticipated duration of the production halt varies across reports. Amazon MGM Studios projected a two-week shutdown, during which the crew would continue to receive pay. Other reports suggested the pause could last between one to six months. Production aims to resume as soon as Turner has recovered.
Series Overview
The Tomb Raider series is a live-action adaptation of the popular video game franchise, with Sophie Turner cast in the iconic role of Lara Croft. Filming for the series commenced on January 15 and is primarily taking place in the United Kingdom, including locations such as Surrey, England.
Prime Video greenlit the series in May 2024, and Turner's casting was reported in November of the same year. While a release date has not yet been officially confirmed, the series is expected to premiere on Prime Video in 2027. The potential impact of the current production delay on this schedule remains undetermined.
Cast and Key Personnel
The series features a principal cast including:
- Sophie Turner as Lara Croft
- Martin Bobb-Semple
- Sigourney Weaver
- Jason Isaacs
- Jack Bannon
- John Heffernan
- Bill Paterson
- Paterson Joseph
- Sasha Luss
- Juliette Motamed
- Celia Imrie
- August Wittgenstein
Key creative and production personnel for the series include:
- Creator, Writer, Executive Producer, Co-Showrunner: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer: Chad Hodge
- Director, Executive Producer: Jonathan Van Tulleken
Executive producers also include Crystal Dynamics, Jenny Robins (through Wells Street Productions), Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg (Michael Lawrence Goldberg), Timothy I. Stevenson, and Dallas Dickinson (through Story Kitchen), Michael Scheel, and Legendary Television. Matt McInnism serves as a co-executive producer, and Jan R. Martin is a producer. The production involves Story Kitchen, Crystal Dynamics, and Amazon MGM Studios.
Franchise Context and Development
The Tomb Raider video game franchise first launched in 1996. The most recent game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, was released in 2018. Two new games, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, are scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The intellectual property for Tomb Raider is owned by the Swedish company Embracer, which acquired developer Crystal Dynamics in 2022.
Previous on-screen adaptations of Lara Croft have featured actresses Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander. The current series development is part of an agreement between Crystal Dynamics and Amazon MGM Studios, stemming from Story Kitchen's first-look deal to develop additional Tomb Raider content.
Recent Set Information
Initial images of Sophie Turner in her Lara Croft costume were released prior to the production halt. Subsequent photos from the set in Surrey, England, showed Turner in a different costume, which included grey cargo pants, a ribbed brown shirt, and a navy gilet. Set reports described Turner performing a parachute stunt over a lake and running through woods. Turner has reportedly trained for nearly a year for the role. A trailer release is not expected in the near future.