Will Angelina Jolie return for a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider reboot?

Warners Bros. and Dan Lin, who was a producer on The Departed, as well as the upcoming Terminator Salvation, Sherlock Holmes and Jonny Quest movies, are in early development on a “revival” of the Tomb Raider franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. We may not have too much to fear – yet, as the report states that the new film will bear little resemblance to the original pictures. It is expected to reimagine the origins of the character, her love interest and the main villain.

Tomb Raider, which was published in 1996 by a Eidos, was a wildly popular game that involved the daredevil archaeologist Lara Croft on a series of global missions.

Paramount made the two films based on the successful game, but Eidos retained all rights to the character. Time Warner upped its stake in Eidos in December of last year, and added films rights to the property as part of the deal.

Lin will produce the new film via Lin Pictures, while Stephen Gilchrist will co-produce, along with Ian Livingstone of Eidos and Matt Reilly at Warners.

It sounds like Angelina Jolie will not be returning to her role as the world-saving, adventure-seeking Lara Croft. The report also says that an actress will be chosen to play the role after a writer and director are attached.

The first Paramount film, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, concerned Croft’s race against a secret society known as the Illuminati to find a key, while it’s 2003 sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, centered on her quest to find Pandora’s Box.

No word yet on the storyline of the new film.

Below is a trailer for 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.