‘Tomb Raider’ for a new generation

You don’t have to be an avid gamer or a movie buff to know about Tomb Raider. Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard of both the games and the two movies inspired by it. Now, just like the game that got rebooted back in 2013, the film is getting a new chance shot at life, too. And we get to hear from Lara Croft herself, played by the versatile Alicia Vikander, about what to expect from her and the upcoming origin story of one of the most iconic characters of our age.

What was your reaction when you were first approached about taking on the iconic role of Lara Croft?  
I was certainly familiar with Lara Croft, having played the Tomb Raider game both as a kid and as an adult. Since this project draws its inspiration from the 2013 version of the game, which is quite different from the editions I was familiar with, I played that version and really liked its more contemporary feel. So, I met with the director, Roar Uthaug, and the producers, who provided some intriguing insights about the film they wanted to make. I realized that they wanted to bring the world of Tomb Raider and Lara Croft to life—and into our time—in an exciting new way that would be compelling, human, and relevant to this generation.
What can you tell us about the Lara Croft we meet in Tomb Raider, and what drew you to the character?
Lara has a feistiness, intelligence, and wit about her that I love as well as a passion for adventure.
Since this is an origin story, we meet Lara as she’s still trying to figure out what she’s going to do with her life and find her place in the world. Although she was born to privilege, I really liked the fact that instead of embracing a glamorous life, Lara stands up for herself; she wants to figure out who she is on her own terms, which I think is something that anyone can relate to. Young people don’t always know the journey that lies ahead for them.
Lara has a wounded relationship with her missing dad, whom she hasn’t even been able to mourn because he had disappeared when Lara was 13. When we meet her, she’s a bit cynical about the fantasies and stories her father told her as a child. But, as her journey unfolds, she opens up and dares to believe again. I like that about her.

You’ve done big movies before, but Tomb Raider takes to it to a whole new level. Was embarking on a production of this scale its own adventure for you?
My mother, who’s an actress, introduced me to the world of theater and film. I loved independent, arthouse films, but, like most people, I also loved being drawn into big adventure films, like the Indiana Jones movies. So, with Tomb Raider, I had the chance to work on something that’s very different from my previous work, but which has long been close to my heart: a big action and adventure film.
Along with that came the opportunity to explore my physical side on a film. I come from a dancing background, so when I learned that playing Lara would involve three or four months to get in shape—well, that kind of preparation and the chance to create a new physique are gifts. I found the training and muscle-building to be empowering.
You mentioned Lara’s relationship with her father, Richard Croft, played in the film by Dominic West. What can you tell us about the character and the qualities Dominic brings to that role?
Dominic was the first person I thought of for the role when I read the script. In fact, I think I might have first come up with the idea of casting him as Richard Croft in Tomb Raider because he had played my dad before, in the film Testament of Youth. Dominic can be extremely playful and down-to-earth and has a wonderful energy that really worked for the character, especially in the way Richard expresses his passion for mythology and artifacts. You understand why Lara, who has been introduced to these stories by her dad, eventually falls in love with those mythologies.  So, Dominic was perfect for Richard.

How did you find working with Daniel Wu, who plays Lu Ren, the boat captain who becomes Lara’s ally in her quest to solve the mystery behind her father’s disappearance?
I think Daniel is a stand-out actor and a wonderful addition to the film. I was also impressed by all the stunt work Daniel has done on his television series Into the Badlands. It was inspiring as I prepared to do my stunts in Tomb Raider. I had a great time working with him.
Daniel’s Lu Ren reminds me of a young Han Solo in the way things just seem to fall into place for him. Lu Ren is an outspoken, no-fluff kind of hero.
Lara has a very different dynamic with Mathias, portrayed by Walton Goggins. What was it like playing that and working opposite Walton? 
Walton makes Mathias feel very modern and not just pure evil. His performance makes you really understand Mathias’ motivations and feelings about Lara and his assignment.
While Mathias is a definite threat to Lara, they have an unexpected connection, despite being on opposite sides. They both have doubts about the mythic tomb of Queen Himiko that has brought them both to this island, and Lara can connect with him on that level. But while exploring, she begins to question if she has done the right thing, and wonder if her dad might have been right all along that the tomb was cursed.
How does your director, Roar Uthaug, balance the demands of orchestrating a production of this size with the more intimate, character-driven moments, and how did you find the experience of working with him?
It was wonderful to work with Roar on Tomb Raider because he always balanced story and character with the big action set pieces. For Roar it was always about telling a good dramatic story in the context of a huge action-adventure. It’s the best of both worlds.
I had seen his film, The Wave, which is genre film. It has the scope and scale you’d expect from that kind of film, but it broadens the genre in ways that really surprised me. Even though it’s this big disaster movie, I found myself relating to and rooting for the characters, and the relationships and emotions felt completely authentic.

Did you have a favorite scene to play in the film, or a moment off-set that was especially fun or memorable for you?
It’s difficult to single out one moment, because there were so many big things on this film that I’ve never done before as an actor. Working on the big action sequences was tremendous because most of the sets were practical and the action was real.
It goes back to how I fell in love with adventure films when I was a child. Walton Goggins shared that obsession [laughs]. When we started work on the film, we got to walk into the tomb set and saw an enormous pagoda and a sarcophagus and all kinds of amazing details. We were like two children running around. I loved working on those sets, which were massive. It was magical.
Tomb Raider hits Philippine cinemas on March 8, Thursday.