Why Melissa Barrera Would Be The Perfect Lara Croft

Yesterday we received an replace that wasn’t actually an replace concerning the upcoming Tomb Raider TV sequence. Already confirmed to be in existence and penned by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the replace was that Amazon Prime had formally picked it up, however given the present partnership between Tomb Raider and Amazon on the gaming facet, that hardly appears stunning. Nonetheless, this replace that wasn’t was rapidly adopted by rumours that Scream’s Melissa Barrera was being eyed for the titular function, and instantly it looks like massive information certainly.

However very similar to the replace wasn’t an replace, this hearsay wasn’t a hearsay – Barrera was merely put ahead by IGN Brazil as a possible Lara (alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Nathalie Emmanuel, Anya Chalotra, and present voice of Lara within the video games, Camilla Luddington). Fan pages hoping this was true spun what was basically a fan solid right into a hearsay, however given she’s additionally my fan solid, I’m going to run with it.

Whereas there’s little (nothing) to go off proper now, I’m already dedicated to the concept. I like Barrera’s work in Scream, in addition to Carmen and the current Abigail, whereas my responsible pleasure confession is that In The Heights (during which Barrera leads as Vanessa) may be my favorite musical of all time. So let’s speak about why Barrera can be a terrific alternative for Lara.

Tomb Raider Might Be The Subsequent Step For Melissa Barrera

Even calling her ‘Scream’s Melissa Barrera’ feels a little bit off. Whereas she led 5 and 6 and is the strongest, most complicated character in each these motion pictures, she was unceremoniously dumped from the franchise after repeatedly displaying public help for Palestine – co-star Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon swiftly departed quickly after, rumoured to be partly due to Barrera’s exit.

There have been fears of a blacklisting for Barrera, however so far this has not materialised. She’s simply been in cinemas with Abigail, directed by Scream 5 & 6 duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, and horror-rom com Your Monster has been making a splash on the competition circuit. Add in Mattress Relaxation, and Barrera already has the CV of a seasoned scream queen.

She’s on the level the place she wants to stay or twist – department out to different genres, or attempt to dominate horror for the subsequent decade. Given her skills on show in Carmen and Within the Heights, trying past horror is the good transfer, and Tomb Raider would underline that she doesn’t miss Scream one bit.

Barrera Brings Coronary heart And Steely Eyes To Lara Croft

After all, simply because it could serve Barrera nicely just isn’t a purpose to solid her. I’d as nicely go to bat that I must be solid myself – I might use the cash. However it’s not simply that the transfer can be good for Barrera, it could even be glorious for Tomb Raider general.

Although she’s but to star in a full motion mission, she in all probability has essentially the most motion sequences – and positively essentially the most violent scenes – of any Scream character throughout the sequence. She will be able to play chilly, severe, and pushed, however may show nice tenderness, as we see in Scream, Abigail, and Carmen. These scenes in Abigail when blood drops down her ragged hair whereas her darkish eyes stare out from her face masks show the kind of metal a terrific Lara ought to have.

The plain rebuttal is that Lara Croft is white and British, neither of which Barrera is. To the primary level, I don’t suppose race is important to her character and I’m in all probability by no means going to see eye to eye with individuals who do. They need to solid the very best particular person for the function and if that particular person is Latina, it really works for me.

Given there was concern over the function of a British ‘tomb raider’ stealing artefacts that don’t belong to her as a coloniser would, and larger introspection on who Lara is gathering relics for and why, centring girl of color – particularly one so politically outspoken as Barrera – might underline this story as a extra modernised model of the mythos.

It’s value noting Lara’s unique character design was as Laura Cruz, although it could be a stretch to say Barrera’s casting can be in tribute to this and never merely a results of Waller-Bridge and the producers feeling she was finest for the function.

As for the British half, I do take into account that to be a core a part of who Lara Croft is. Nonetheless, neither Jolie nor Vikander are British (American and Swedish, respectively), so it’s only a query of whether or not Barrera can play British. That’s presumably a query that may come up within the audition, so proper now, I’m not frightened.

What Will The New Tomb Raider Collection Look Like?

We do not know what the Tomb Raider present will seem like. There are three distinct eras of the video games, plus a recent requel on the best way. Then there are the Angelina Jolie motion pictures that leaned into early ‘00s ridiculous extra and the extra grounded Alicia Vikander model that by no means fairly knew how a lot of the Tomb Raider mythology it needed to purchase into.

Between them, they cowl the unique period (Jolie) and the Survivor trilogy (Vikander), leaving my private favorite, the Legend period, unexplored. Hopefully Waller-Bridge’s sequence, whoever the lead is, plugs this hole. That might imply extra jet-setting and excessive octane stunts like bike chases, leaping throughout cavernous gaps on vines, and scaling buildings in a cocktail gown.

A Tomb Raider present shouldn’t attempt to be too gritty, however ought to keep the wit and enjoyable of the very best video games. With Waller-Bridge bringing expertise from Killing Eve and James Bond, I belief it’s in dependable fingers. Hopefully the fingers holding the dual pistols are Melissa Barrera’s.

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered

The unique trilogy of Tomb Raider video games for PS1 have been remastered for contemporary platforms. The visuals for all three video games have been upgraded, all DLC is included, and gamers can change between the previous and new graphics.

Launched

February 14, 2024

Developer(s)

Core Design
, Aspyr
, Saber Interactive