Sigourney Weaver's Conjures Up 'Wallace' for Tomb Raider, Scripts So Good They're Practically Magic (and Funny?)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Legendary actress Sigourney Weaver has officially joined Amazon's live-action Tomb Raider series, praising Phoebe Waller-Bridge's "incredible and very funny" scripts, and confirming she'll play a character named Wallace, adding a curious twist to the franchise's multi-platform future.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're tinkering with a spell, expecting a little spark, and instead, a full-blown dragon materialises? That's kinda how I feel about the latest Tomb Raider news, especially with the legendary Sigourney Weaver stepping into the fray. It’s wilder than a rogue teleportation spell, mate, and honestly, a bit unexpected in the best way possible.
Just earlier this week, the rumour mills were grinding louder than a broken gearbox about Weaver joining Amazon's live-action Tomb Raider series. Whispers of talks, 'maybes', and 'we'll sees'. But now, the digital tea leaves have settled, and Weaver herself has officially confirmed it. Bloody hell, she's in! Speaking to Deadline on a red carpet (because where else does one drop such bombs?), she declared, straight up, "I am going to be in Tomb Raider." You can almost hear the collective gasp of sci-fi and action fans worldwide. That's a genuine 'hold my potion' moment.
Now, here's where it gets really interesting, and where my inner wizard starts humming with curiosity. She’s "very excited," which is always a good sign when a titan like Weaver gets involved. But then she dropped the line about the scripts: "The scripts are incredible, and very funny, very charming, very witty, as we have come to expect from Ms Waller-Bridge."
'Incredible and very funny'? Right, fair dinkum, I reckon. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the genius behind Fleabag, after all, and her Midas touch for sharp, witty dialogue is undeniable. So, *that* part makes sense. But for *Tomb Raider*? A series usually known for its ancient puzzles, dangerous tombs, and, well, 'tomb raiding'? My gentle skepticism wand just started glowing a bit. I mean, don't get me wrong, a dash of humour is always welcome. Lara Croft herself has always had a certain dry wit. But 'very funny' takes me back to that moment you accidentally turn your familiar into a rubber chicken – amusing, but maybe not what you were aiming for.
Weaver's enthusiasm for Waller-Bridge's work, apparently, isn't new. She's been a fan for a while, which makes this casting feel less like a corporate algorithm spit-out and more like a genuine meeting of creative minds. That's a good sign, innit? It hints at a project driven by passion, not just IP exploitation. We love to see it when the creatives genuinely *want* to be there.
But the biggest head-scratcher, the one that makes me ponder the very fabric of character naming conventions, is the role itself. Weaver confirmed she’s playing a character named… wait for it… Wallace. "A famous English name," she quipped, "not always very popular, wouldn't you say." Wallace! Seriously? My mind immediately jumped to Wallace and Gromit, or maybe a gruff, pipe-smoking librarian. Not exactly the first name that springs to mind for the perilous world of Lara Croft. Is Wallace a long-lost relative? An eccentric academic rival? A secret mentor who speaks in riddles and only appears through shimmering portals? My money's on the latter, because, well, *Tomb Raider*.
This isn't the only juicy morsel to drop for Tomb Raider fans this week, mind you. While we're dissecting Weaver's involvement, we also got a sneak peek at the new mainline game from Crystal Dynamics and Amazon at this morning's Game Awards. It's called *Tomb Raider: Catalyst*, and it's sending Lara off to explore India. A new game in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam? That's quite the wait, but it suggests they're brewing something substantial. Plus, there's a remake of the original Tomb Raider due out next year. Talk about a full-frontal assault on our nostalgic heartstrings! It's a proper multi-media push, almost like someone's trying to rebuild a forgotten empire.
So, what does all this mean for us, the discerning gamers and lore enthusiasts? We've got Sophie Turner taking on Lara Croft, British actor Martin Bobb-Semple in another 'major' undisclosed role, a new game called *Catalyst*, an original game remake, and now Sigourney Weaver, a bona fide legend, as… Wallace. It's a confluence of big names and big plans, stretching across gaming and television. It feels like Amazon is going all-in on the Tomb Raider IP, treating it less like a single game series and more like a sprawling, interconnected universe.
My cautiously optimistic self says this broad approach, especially with Waller-Bridge and Weaver on board for the series, could breathe new life into Lara Croft beyond just the pixels. It's an opportunity to explore the character and her world with a fresh, witty lens. My gently skeptical side, however, reminds me that 'very funny' scripts still need to deliver on the core Tomb Raider experience of adventure and discovery, not just punchlines. And 'Wallace'? Well, I'm just going to have to see that one to believe it. But hey, it keeps things interesting, doesn't it? Like finding a rare relic, you just gotta dig into it.
*Original reporting by Victoria Phillips Kennedy for Eurogamer.* (URL)
Tags: Tomb Raider, Sigourney Weaver, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Live-Action Series, Gaming News
Original article: Eurogamer