‘Tomb Raider’ Animated Netflix Series: What We Know So Far

Netflix, Square Enix and Square Enix are collaborating on a new animated series that will be based on the Tomb Raider videogame franchise. While details are limited at the moment, here’s everything we do know so far.

Tomb Raider, an animated series that will be exclusively available on Netflix, was first announced in conjunction with Skull Island's anime project back January 2021.

Netflix lists the project on its own site as a Japanese anime action series which is described as “a road trip adventure”. IMDb describes the project as:

“Follows heroine Lara Croft as she explores new territory.”

This series is one of a number of popular video games that will get adaptations by Netflix.

Tomb Raider has existed since the late 1990s. It is one of the most popular gaming franchises of all time. The franchise also has its own movies, the Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider films.

There have been 17 games, with another one rumored to be in development. In just five years, the game will celebrate its 30th anniversary.).

Based on the game IP, three movies have been made. These include the Angelina Jolie entries Lara Croft Tomb Raider (and The Cradle of Life) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider (both featuring Alicia Vikander). Warner Brothers is currently developing a sequel to the movie, which will be released in 2018. A 2018 reboot starring Alicia Vikander was made.

This new series will continue shortly following the events in the Square Enix Trilogy of Games that was released between 2013-2018.

What are the roles of those involved with Netflix's Tomb Raider series on Netflix?

Tasha Huo, who heads up the writing team is working on Tomb Raider and two other projects for Millenium Films is Black Belle. Red Sonja will be starring Hannah John-Kamen.

Legendary Television produces the series in collaboration with Square Enix and DJ2 Entertainment.

The animation studio working on the project will be Powerhouse Animation Studios which is behind Netflix’s Castlevania and most recently signed a first-look deal with Netflix. Their headquarters are in Austin, Texas.

Powerhouse Animation Titles on Netflix

Howard K. Bliss and Stephan Vladimir Bugaj serve as executive producers. Dmitri Johnson and Jacob Robinson are also involved.

Is there any production of the Tomb Raider series in Canada?

Writing concluded on the project in late May 2021 with Tasha Huo posting that they’ve concluded the writing process meaning it’s now all down to the animators and voice artists to bring the words on paper to life. The celebration was appropriately marked by the throwing of axes.

Many photos were taken during the writing process and posted to Twitter by the Zoom writers (it was written during the COVID-19 epidemic).

Which characters will Tomb Raider appear on the Netflix series?

Well, let’s begin with the obvious. Lara Craft will be featured in Tomb Raider.

On September 13, we learned that Lara would be voiced in by Hayley Atwell, who is most well-known for her role as Peggy Carter on Captain America.

Zip is the only character confirmed to be in the Netflix series.

Zip featured in both the original timeline and legend timeline but based on the cast listing we’ve seen, it appears the character in Netflix’s series will be more akin to the Zip seen in the Legends timeline.

Here’s his character synopsis for the new series:

“Hacker and tech geek. Zip was discovered by Croft Industries after he broke into one of their competitor’s databases. They recruited him and continue to pay him handsomaly.”

Square Enix revealed that Allen Maldonado was the new Zip in October 2021, to commemorate the 25th anniversary.

That’s all we have on the new Tomb Raider anime series coming soon to Netflix for now, we’ll be sure to let you know more as and when we get it.