Here's why Angelina Jolie didn't star in a third Tomb Raider movie. Dorsum in the heady days of the original PlayStation, Lara Croft emerged as one of the console's leading icons and became a household name to rival Sonic and Link. The pixelated pistol-toting Brit remains a video game legend, but whether later releases match upward to the 1990s originals is a matter of debate. The popularity of Lara Croft andTomb Raider was such that Hollywood soon came calling and a live-activity movie began development in the belatedly 1990s. Released in 2001,Lara Croft: Tomb Raider wasn't well received by fans and became i in a long line of poor video game adaptations. Nevertheless, the intrigue of seeing Lara on the big screen was enough to propelTomb Raider to box role success.

Consequently, a sequel was green-lit with Jolie returning every bit the charismatic pb. 2003'due southLara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life pitted its titular explorer confronting a Chinese criminal gang and a dastardly scientist intent on finding the legendary Pandora'due south box. The follow-upwards was essentially more than of the same globe-trotting fantastical action and marked yet some other failed try to successfully translate a video game into a compelling feature-length story. Since the novelty of Lara'south movie debut had at present worn off, acquirement was significantly lower forThe Cradle of Life, although the sequel did nonetheless manage to profit.

Initially, the prospects of a 3rdTomb Raider movie looked skilful. The belongings conspicuously had franchise potential and was still making coin for Paramount, withThe Cradle of Life showing plenty hope in the international market to warrant another outing. Additionally, Chris Barrie, who had played Lara's butler Hillary in bothTomb Raider movies, stated in 2004 that a third installment was "on the slate" and that he hoped to return. Of course,Tomb Raider 3 never came to pass, and this decision was entirely downwards to Angelina Jolie. Speaking during the press tour forTaking Lives in 2004, Jolie stated "I just don't feel similar I need to do some other 1, because I felt very happy with the final ane. It was the 1 that we really wanted to do."

Jolie'sTomb Raider three reluctance is entirely understandable. The initial 2001 film was criticized for a poor script and lack of grapheme depth, butThe Cradle of Life offered a little more in that regard. This fits with Jolie'southward suggestion that her portrayal of Lara Croft had already achieved everything the actress wanted from the graphic symbol. Taking a more than business concern-minded stance, Angelina Jolie'south performance is hands the strongest element of theTomb Raider movies and despite the films themselves receiving poor reviews, becoming Lara turned Jolie into an A-listing movie star. It seemed the logical choice to step away from a franchise that was on the decline financially when her growing reputation gave Jolie so many other options to explore.

In hindsight,Tomb Raider 3 probable wouldn't accept hindered Angelina Jolie's meteoric rise, just information technology notwithstanding could have impacted her career in a profound manner. Following the 2-year gap between the first two movies,Tomb Raider 3 likely would've shot effectually the same time Jolie was working onMr. & Mrs. Smith. Not only was this spy comedy another big striking for the extra, just she would also run into her future husband, Brad Pitt. Perhaps this opportunity wouldn't have been bachelor if Jolie had committed to anotherTomb Raider picture show.

Lara Croft, meanwhile, took a hiatus from the large screen, only to return refreshed and rebooted in 2018, now played by Alicia Vikander. The new generation ofTomb Raider broadly followed the aforementioned pattern as Jolie'due south era - a solid financial performance despite stinging reviews. Vikander volition return as Croft in 2021, and it'll exist interesting to run across if she too declines to take part in a third Tomb Raiderflick.

More: Alicia Vikander Makes A Ameliorate Lara Croft Than Angelina Jolie

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About The Writer

Craig Elvy (3946 Articles Published)

Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years afterwards graduating higher, and has been ranting ever since, by and large to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig'south interest soon turned to Television receiver and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own. Craig has previously been published on sites such every bit Den of Geek, and later many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening piece of work eventually turned into a full-time career roofing everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS. Since joining the Screen Bluster fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, only now works predominantly as a features writer. Jim Carrey is Craig'due south top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High Schoolhouse Musical trilogy.

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