Here’s how the new ‘Tomb Raider’ will be ‘new and fresh,’ according to Alicia Vikander

Following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie is a daunting task, especially when the task in question is taking on the role that launched Jolie into a Hollywood stardom – Lara Croft – and in turn further established the character as an icon.

But Alicia Vikander appears confident she”s got this covered. The Ex Machina actress was cast as the lead in the newest film adaptation of the Tomb Raider games back in April. Talking with Vikander today about Jason Bourne, I checked in on the plans for Lara Croft.

The new movie had been reported to “tell the story of a young and untested Croft fighting to survive her first adventure.”

Looks like we will indeed get to see more of the archaeologist-adventurer actually becoming the Tomb Raider, much like in the more recent games.

“They told me they were doing the film based on the reboot of the game from 2013,” Vikander said on our phone call today. “That is more of an origin story. You get into an emotional aspect of getting to know Lara hopefully in an in-depth way. So I hope that doing a film of the rebooted game will bring something new and fresh that”ll stand on its own two legs.”

Vikander played the game as a kid and remembers that “I, with the rest of the world, was excited to see a female protagonist in a video game.” She admitted, “I was a bit scared playing it when I was 12, 13. I had to go take little breaks,” the now-27-year-old actress said.

Tomb Raider is among the films Vikander has on her full slate. She”s much in demand after a huge 2015 that thrust her into the spotlight with Ex Machina, The Danish Girl, Burnt, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

In fact, Vikander had to turn down a part in another popular video game-based movie, Assassin”s Creed. That movie could have had her sharing the screen with rumored boyfriend Michael Fassbender again (they”re in upcoming drama The Light Between Oceans together). Vikander had to pass on Assassin”s Creed since its production schedule conflicted with Jason Bourne“s. She told me that she”d taken the meeting for Bourne first, but the espionage sequel was also the “clear choice” for her since she is a self-professed “huge fan” of the Bourne franchise. When she shared a flat in London with some girlfriends, “on Sundays while we didn”t have anything to do, we”d go, ‘Oh, what should we do?” ‘Let”s just watch Bourne again.””

Jason Bourne opens in theaters on June 29. Vikander”s next chance to delve into a fan-favorite franchise, Tomb Raider, is set for a March 16, 2018 release date. Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug (The Wave) will direct.

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