‘Tomb Raider 2’: ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green Takes Over Directing Duties From Ben Wheatley

We finally have an update concerning that “Tomb Raider” sequel. There was some concern when director Ben Wheatly attached himself to direct “The Meg” sequel for Warner Bros., he might have to exit the “Tomb Raider 2” sequel he was developing with actress Alicia Vikander set to reprise the Lara Croft role. Well, Wheatley’s exit has seemingly confirmed, and a replacement has been already announced.

READ MORE: Ben Wheatley To Direct ‘The Meg 2’ Shark Sequel With Jason Statham

Deadline reports that Misha Green will be making her feature film debut as a director on ‘Tomb Raider 2,” following her showrunning and directing duties on the celebrated HBO series “Lovecraft Country.” That genre-bending series was an adaptation of Matt Ruff’s novel featuring Green as showrunner, writer and executive producer. Green has plenty of experience with genre projects having written on “Sons of Anarchy,” “Heroes,” and “Spartacus.’

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Green will also be taking over screenwriting duties from “Free Fire” screenwriter Amy Jump, Wheatley’s longtime writing partner, who penned the original “Tomb Raider 2” script.

READ MORE: Ben Wheatley Filmed A Secret Horror Film During Lockdown Before Working On ‘Tomb Raider 2’

Based on one of the more popular video game characters, the “Tomb Raider” Lara Croft lead is a British treasure hunter and a modern Indiana Jones-type. Croft is regularly thrust into globetrotting adventures to find various artifacts in dangerous hard to reach tombs that are littered with boobytraps and puzzles.

READ MORE: ‘Lovecraft Country’: A Powerful & Terrifying Genre Odyssey Led By An Incredible Cast [Review]

The film franchise had been recently rebooted by GK Films/MGM Studios with Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander taking over the role previously played by fellow Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie in the original two movies from the early aughts. The 2018 reboot earned $274.6 million globally on a $94 million budget, which isn’t amazing but still seems to be enough for them to move forward with a second instalment. 

Warner Bros. had once given the sequel a release date of March 19, 2021, but that was before the pandemic delayed most productions in 2020. The studio will surely have to give “Tomb Raider 2” a new date eventually.