On Wednesday morning, Tomb Raider fans got their first look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. Amazon MGM Studios shared the picture on social media to announce the start of production for the new series. With her amber sunglasses, teal top, short shorts, and dual pistols, the inspiration for the costume design is clearly from the original ’90s games.
Get your artifacts out. Lara’s on her way… #TombRaider #WardrobeTest pic.twitter.com/mJSQMDj2zm
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) January 15, 2026
The caption, “Get your artifacts out. Lara’s on her way,” along with the hashtags #TombRaider and #WardrobeTest, suggest that this may not be Turner’s final or only look in the series. But the fact that Amazon released it suggests that the tone of the show is already set.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (2024), Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
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Online reactions have been mixed.
A Faithful Look — But Is It Lara Croft?
The Critical Drinker shared the photo and said, “I’m not seeing any Lara Croft here.” In a follow-up post, he added, “They’ve definitely got the outfit down, so props for that one at least. But all I’m seeing is some random actress cosplaying as Lara.”
I’m not seeing any Lara Croft here. https://t.co/yQiY8UrHDc
— The Critical Drinker (@TheCriticalDri2) January 15, 2026
That seems to be the predominant sentiment. Lara Croft is a video game icon, and perhaps one of the most popular characters for gaming enthusiasts to dress up as at conventions. Turner and her costume “look fine,” many users note. But for many, her outfit is on the same level as fan-made costumes.
When your several-million dollar streaming show can’t do as well as most cosplayers.
Some of whom are men.— Loki Jarson (@LokiJarson) January 15, 2026
Some of the criticism has been pointed.
She looks like an American girl who bought the Lara Croft Halloween costume on Amazon
😭 https://t.co/Mjpp9pznmF pic.twitter.com/ONlkdKVSpD
— Ulthimas 女天狗 ♥︎ (@ulthimas) January 15, 2026
Still, others have praised the look for its accuracy, expressing hope that the traditional look will lead to a faithful adaptation of the games.
Sophie Turner as Lara Croft in classic gear for the new Amazon Tomb Raider series has me hyped! Seeing those iconic pistols & shorts, plus the show connecting to game lore, sounds like a faithful adaptation. And new games too! This is what we’ve been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/FnbcyJU92m
— Greg Gaming Area (@GregGamingArea) January 15, 2026
Turner is the third actress to bring Lara Croft into live-action. In the early ’00s, Angelina Jolie played Lara in a pair of movies. The first, while not a critical success, did well enough at the box office to spark a sequel. A 2018 attempt to revive the franchise with a Lara origin story starred Alicia Vikander. It seemingly came and went without leaving much of an impression.
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in the 2018 movie – Warner Bros., YouTube
For many, Jolie is still the definitive Lara Croft.
If I’m to compare Angelina Jolie is still the BEST to ever do it..
— Farmer Akin Alabi® (@akinwale_cfi) January 15, 2026
Debate over Turner’s look is far from the only concern, as fans wonder about the show’s overall creative direction. Turner is only the latest actress to play Lara Croft, and her look is significant. However, the broader concern is about who is charting her next adventure.
Creative Direction May Be the Bigger Question
Amazon MGM Studios greenlit the Tomb Raider series in May 2024, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge the creator, writer, executive producer and co-showrunner. This came a year after the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, in which Waller-Bridge had a leading role. The screenwriters reportedly drew inspiration from Waller-Bridge in crafting her character, whom Geeks + Gamers described in its review as “the latest obnoxious girlboss who talks over and dresses down the hero while gleefully announcing how incredible she is.”
(L-R): Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in Lucasfilm’s INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Ultimately, the success of Tomb Raider will depend less on the costume Turner wears than on the material she is given. If the show can capture the spirit of the games that made Lara Croft a gaming icon, Turner may take the proverbial crown from Angelina Jolie and redefine the character. But a faithful costume alone isn’t enough to carry a series.
What do you think of Sophie Turner as Lara Croft? Let us know in the comments!
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