Tomb Raider TV Series Reportedly Canceled After Major Shakeups at Prime Video

The Lara Croft legacy hits a roadblock, despite recent successes in game-to-screen adaptations

The long-anticipated Tomb Raider TV series from Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge may be dead in the water, according to a new report from the Daily Mail. Initially greenlit by Prime Video under Amazon MGM Studios boss Jennifer Salke, the adaptation was billed as a cornerstone in Amazon's ambitious plans to create a massive multimedia Tomb Raider franchise. But now, following Salke’s unexpected exit and mounting behind-the-scenes turmoil, it looks like the show has been shelved indefinitely.

According to insiders, the series suffered repeated delays in the writers room, with scripts deemed “not ready for filming” despite tens of millions already poured into development. At one point, Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner was reportedly lined up to play Lara Croft, though it's unclear whether she was ever officially attached or if she remains involved now.

This news hits hard, not just for fans of the Tomb Raider franchise but for anyone invested in the growing genre of game-to-screen adaptations. After the critical and commercial triumphs of HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s own Fallout, many believed Tomb Raider could be the next major hit. Add in recent wins like The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.3 billion globally) and A Minecraft Movie ($313 million opening weekend), and it’s clear the appetite for well-made gaming adaptations is higher than ever.

So what went wrong with Tomb Raider?

The downfall of this particular project seems more a result of studio politics than creative failure. Salke was a vocal champion of the show and reportedly had a hands-on role in its development. With her departure amid a larger internal shakeup at Prime Video, it seems the series lost its most powerful advocate. Without her to shield the project, Amazon appears to have quietly pulled the plug — a major setback, especially considering Waller-Bridge once said she felt her career had been “building up to this.”

The irony? Tomb Raider has all the ingredients for a successful TV adaptation. The franchise, which debuted in 1996, helped define the 3D action-adventure genre and made Lara Croft a global pop culture icon. With over a dozen games and two major film adaptations starring Angelina Jolie and, late, Alicia Vikander, the IP carries serious brand recognition. Plus, the recent reboot trilogy from Crystal Dynamics reintroduced Lara with more emotional depth, cinematic storytelling, and grounded realism — perfect for long-form TV.

It’s not all bad news for Tomb Raider fans, though. Amazon is still set to publish the next Tomb Raider game, currently in development at Crystal Dynamics. While that project was never meant to tie into the show, it suggests the company isn’t ready to abandon the IP entirely. But the loss of a potentially big-budget streaming series still stings, especially when the groundwork for a successful adaptation felt so solid.

Meanwhile, the landscape for game-to-screen stories has never been more vibrant. HBO’s The Last of Us raised the bar in 2023 with prestige writing, top-tier performances, and faithful adaptation, even netting Emmy wins. Amazon’s own Fallout series launched in 2025 to glowing early reviews and strong viewership, blending humor, post-apocalyptic grit, and fan service with surprising effectiveness. Animated films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and A Minecraft Movie have proven that gaming IPs can go mainstream in a huge way when done right.

In short, Tomb Raider should’ve been an easy win. All the pieces were there — a beloved IP, a top-tier showrunner, and serious money behind it. But in the end, it looks like corporate reshuffling and indecision have claimed another victim.

Still, in the world of Hollywood and video games, no franchise ever stays down for long. If Fallout and The Last of Us have taught us anything, it’s that great adaptations need the right team, the right timing, and a studio willing to take risks. Maybe Lara Croft will rise again. Just not today.