According to sources, the streamer’s aim is to link the movie, video game, and TV show written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The retail behemoth and streamer reportedly has partnered with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment for a sizable rights agreement to produce a Tomb Raider feature film, in addition to the recently announced Phoebe Waller-Bridge TV series and at least one Lara Croft franchise video game.
The goal is to create a cohesive Tomb Raider universe where the video game, TV show, and movie are all related in a way similar to what Marvel has already achieved. Video game fans have been anticipating more Tomb Raider installments since the franchise’s announcement in December.
According to a person with knowledge of the agreement, it is among Amazon’s largest commitments after Lord of the Rings. In contrast, it is estimated that Amazon spent $250 million on the Lord of the Rings rights alone. That deal included spinoffs and a multi-season show called The Rings of Power.
Johnson’s and Amazon’s representatives both declined to comment.
Despite being attached to creating the Tomb Raider TV series script, Fleabag Emmy winner Waller-Bridge is not engaged in the movie or the game. Although she is not yet attached to star in the project that has a series greenlight embedded into the broader Tomb Raider rights deal, Waller-Bridge is believed to be a huge admirer of the Tomb Raider franchise and was anxious to be associated with the TV series. Her partnership with the Tomb Raider franchise is a result of her recently extended overall contract with Amazon.
The Netflix agreement for the Tomb Raider anime series, which included a two-season order, was negotiated by Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment. The corporation has been negotiating IP rights for the past year and a half. After Embracer completed its acquisition of Square Enix assets, Crystal Dynamics reclaimed ownership of the rights to the Tomb Raider video games last year.
In February 2022, Johnson and his company dj2 Entertainment agreed to a first-look agreement with Amazon Studios. According to the agreement, dj2, which helped make the Sonic the Hedgehog movie, will concentrate on creating video game adaptations for the streamer. Additionally, Life Is Strange and Disco Elysium are being adapted for movies and television by Johnson’s dj2.
APA and Cowans DeBates are Johnson’s representatives.
