By Jonathan Klotz | Published
In surprisingly short order, Netflix announced that Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft returns for a second season. The news comes just two weeks after the first season premiered on the streaming service, making it clear that this is the company’s latest animated hit, following in the footsteps of Castlevania And Esoteric. There’s no release date for season 2 yet, but fans can rest easy knowing that it’s already in the works.
A first success with fans
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is part of the franchise’s rebooted timeline, taking place after the last game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider. In season 1, Lara (voiced by Hayley Atwell) flies around the world, from Chile to China, across the ocean and into the mountains, trying to stop the sacred stones from disrupting the balance of the world. Beautifully animated by Powerhouse Animation, the same team behind Castlevania, Blood of Zeusand the new Masters of the Universethe series is already a hit with fans, and it has been praised for capturing the spirit of the franchise.
Alongside Hayley Atwell are more recognizable stars including Richard Armitage as fanatic Charles, Nolan North as Lara’s mentor in a fun nod to UnexploredMing Na-Wen as an antiques dealer, and The boys Karen Fukuhara as his best friend, Sam. So far the only one announced as returning tomb Raider Season 2 is Fukuhara as Sam.
Another globetrotting adventure
The plot of tomb Raider Season 2 seems, on the surface, similar to the first, with Lara caught up in another globe-trotting adventure. This time, she attempts to unravel the mystery of a pair of African masks, and given the franchise’s history, it’s no spoiler to say that an ancient legend might turn out to be true. Moving the story to Africa makes sense after season 1, which didn’t touch the continent, although when Angelina Jolie’s sequel, Lara Croft and the Cradle of Lifewent to Africa, it was so bad it killed the franchise for years, so I hope season 2 succeeds.
The rediscovery of Lara Croft
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft comes amid a resurgence in popularity for the PlayStation icon, with the recent re-release of the original game trilogy reminding everyone why they fell in love with its adventures in the first place. A second collection, covering the series’ alter games, is in preparation. A sequel to the 2018 reboot film starring Alicia Vikander has been requested for years, but after the film was considered a box office disappointment, it’s looking increasingly unlikely.
For now, fans can be excited by tomb Raider on Netflix, knowing that it is returning for season 2 and has not yet been canceled. With a new season of Castlevania: Nocturnal arriving soon, Esoteric Season 2 arrives in November, and The devil may cry debuting soon, it’s clear the company has found a valuable new source of intellectual property to mine for years to come.