Amazon Reveals First Look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft

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Fans of Tomb Raider finally got a glimpse of Sophie Turner as Lara Croft on Wednesday morning. Amazon MGM Studios released the first image on social media to announce filming has begun for the new series. Turner’s outfit – including amber sunglasses, a teal top, shorts, and two pistols – is clearly inspired by Lara Croft’s look from the classic 1990s video games.

Get your artifacts out. Lara’s on her way… #TombRaider #WardrobeTest

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) January 15, 2026

The post, with the caption “Get your artifacts out. Lara’s on her way,” and hashtags #TombRaider and #WardrobeTest, hints that we might see more than one outfit for the character throughout the series. However, Amazon releasing the image also indicates they’ve established the overall style and feel of the show.

Online reactions have been mixed.

A Faithful Look — But Is It Lara Croft?

I saw the photo The Critical Drinker shared, and his initial reaction was that the person didn’t really look like Lara Croft. He followed up by saying they nailed the outfit – big kudos for that! – but honestly, he just saw an actress doing a really good Lara Croft cosplay, and it didn’t quite capture the character for him.

I’m not seeing any Lara Croft here.

— The Critical Drinker (@TheCriticalDri2) January 15, 2026

Most people seem to agree that Lara Croft is a hugely popular video game character, and a common choice for cosplay at conventions. While many think Turner’s costume looks good, a lot of viewers feel it appears similar to outfits made by fans rather than a professional, high-quality recreation.

It’s a sign of the times when a multi-million dollar streaming series doesn’t perform as well as the viewership of many cosplayers – and some of those cosplayers are men.

— Loki Jarson (@LokiJarson) January 15, 2026

Some of the criticism has been pointed.

She looks like an American girl who bought the Lara Croft Halloween costume on Amazon

😭

— Ulthimas 女天狗 ♥︎ (@ulthimas) January 15, 2026

Many people appreciate how closely the visuals resemble the original games, and they believe this attention to detail suggests the adaptation will be true to the source material.

I’m really excited about Sophie Turner being cast as Lara Croft in the new Amazon Tomb Raider series! Seeing her in the classic outfit – shorts and with the signature pistols – and hearing that the show will stay true to the games is fantastic. Plus, the promise of new games on top of that is everything fans have been hoping for.

— Greg Gaming Area (@GregGamingArea) January 15, 2026

Alicia Vikander joins a line of actresses who have played Lara Croft in movies, following Angelina Jolie, who starred in two films in the early 2000s. While the first Jolie film wasn’t a hit with critics, it was popular enough to warrant a sequel. A more recent attempt in 2018, an origin story featuring Vikander, didn’t make a significant impact.

For many, Jolie is still the definitive Lara Croft.

If I’m to compare Angelina Jolie is still the BEST to ever do it..

— Farmer Akin Alabi® (@akinwale_cfi) January 15, 2026

While many are discussing Turner’s appearance, fans are even more curious about the future of the show itself. Though Turner is the newest actress to take on the role of Lara Croft, and her portrayal is noteworthy, the bigger question is who’s in charge of the story and where it’s headed.

Creative Direction May Be the Bigger Question

In May 2024, Amazon MGM Studios approved a new Tomb Raider series. Phoebe Waller-Bridge will be the creative force behind it, serving as the writer, creator, an executive producer, and co-showrunner. This news follows her prominent role in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, released the previous year. Reportedly, the writers used Waller-Bridge’s performance as inspiration for her character, which one review from Geeks + Gamers described as a boastful and overbearing personality who frequently interrupts and belittles the hero.

Whether the new Tomb Raider series succeeds won’t hinge on what Lara Croft wears, but on the quality of the story. If the show captures the essence of the original games that made Lara Croft famous, the actress, Taylor Turner, could become the definitive Lara Croft, even surpassing Angelina Jolie. However, simply having a costume that looks like the games isn’t enough to make the show a success.

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2026-01-16 00:58