Crystal Dynamic's 2013 Tomb Raider reboot is said to be the basis of the upcoming film reboot starring Alicia Vikander. The talented Ex Machina star will play the titular role and she'll be joined by former Justified scene-stealer, Walton Goggins, who'll play the villain. If the film is truly following the game, that means Goggins is playing either the fame-hungry archaeologist Dr. James Whitman or Mathias, leader of the Solarii Brotherhood. When asked to describe what drew him to the role and his character Goggins gave a reply that makes it difficult to discern whether he's playing Mathias or Whitman.
"I’m just so excited about it! I’m such a big fan of Alicia and this director, Roar [Uthaug]. Quite honestly, the script feels like it’s already been in the world, in some ways. The structure and the foundation of this story is so solid and so interesting. It’s so unbelievably entertaining, and yet it’s real in the journey that it takes you on. And this person that I get to play is confused and angry and desperate. I’m just looking forward to getting in his head. I’m really, really, really excited about it."
When asked whether it was the script or his initial conversation with director Roar Uthaug that sold him on the project, Goggins stated that it was both, along with his familiarity with Vikander's talent.
"It was threefold, to be quite honest with you. I think Alicia is one of the greatest actors of any generation, let alone her own. And I saw Roar’s movie The Wave last year, and I wanted to meet that filmmaker. And then, it was the script. It always starts with the story for me. I couldn’t believe I was reading what I was reading. I couldn’t believe that it continued in this way, and the ball was never really dropped. It was the combination of those three things. I understand why Alicia signed on for it. Those things don’t happen every day. And then, you go forward and you just try not to be result-oriented and you try to do the best job you can possibly do, before you move on to the next one. It’s a good life! I’m just grateful to be a small part of that life."
In addition to Vikander and Goggins, Daniel Wu also recently joined the project, he'll be playing "Lu Ren, a ship captain who will join forces with the adventurous Lara Croft on her quest to find her father." The most prominent ship captain from the first game was Conrad Roth, who served as Lara's mentor in the first game. Roth was a longtime fried to the Croft family and a former Royal Marine.
Do you think Goggins is playing Whitman or Mathias? Let us know in the comment section below.
Tomb Raider is set to be released March 2018.