Netflix's animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is set to conclude with its upcoming second season, which launches on December 11, 2025. The announcement follows the confirmation that Prime Video will begin filming a new live-action Tomb Raider series starring Sophie Turner early next year.
The animated show, which debuted in October 2024, features the voice talents of Hayley Atwell as Lara Croft and Karen Fukuhara as her best friend Sam. This season continues Lara's globe-trotting adventures as she hunts down stolen African Orisha masks, a journey that involves confronting a mysterious billionaire with a drive to obtain their hidden, possibly divine power.
Produced by Legendary TV and Story Kitchen, with executive producers including Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg, the animated series has received mixed critical reception. Critic reviews like that from IGN pointed out that while the show is not poor, it does not meet the high standard set by earlier animated video game adaptations on Netflix.
Meanwhile, Prime Video is poised to bring a fresh take with its live-action adaptation scheduled to begin filming in January 2026. The production is led by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as creator, writer, and executive producer, with Chad Hodge as co-showrunner and Jonathan van Tulleken directing. Sophie Turner's casting marks a high-profile addition to the franchise's expanding presence on screen.
Netflix also recently announced the upcoming animated adaptation Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, premiering in October 2025, furthering Netflix's commitment to bringing popular video game franchises to the streaming medium.
These developments illustrate a growing trend within the entertainment industry to capitalize on established gaming intellectual properties through diverse formats, from animation to live action. With video game adaptations becoming a mainstay of streaming services' content strategies, both Netflix and Prime Video are positioning themselves to serve the dedicated fan bases of these iconic franchises.
As the gaming and streaming industries evolve, productions like Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and upcoming live-action series contribute to ongoing conversations about narrative quality and faithful adaptation, while also reflecting broader shifts in how interactive entertainment franchises expand their cultural footprint beyond the console.
