PARAMOUNT EYE SPEED KING FOR SEQUEL
Copyright 2002 www.tombraiderchronicles.com

[ May 13th 2002 ]

Franchise fever is consuming Hollywood fueled by the recent releases of Spiderman and Resident Evil and Paramount Pictures is moving quickly toward mounting a sequel to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider with former Oscar winner Angelina Jolie set to reprise her role as adventuress Croft. Following the high-profile search for a director, Variety Magazine reports that the studio has set its sights on Speed helmer Jan De Bont. Negotiations have begun with an eye toward getting the film in production by early fall.

The original Simon West-helmed video-game adaptation garnered more than $230 million in revenue worldwide, coining $48 million during its domestic opening weekend and remains the highest ever box-office earner for a female-driven movie. That married with 30 million unit sales of a video-game featuring the most successful female character in the history of the industry produces the perfect ingredients for a second indelible mark on the silver screen and the Paramount bankroll.

Jolie, currently shooting the Martin Campbell helmed refugee drama Beyond Borders in Thailand, agreed to two further Lara Croft movies despite warning producers that the screenplay must fare better than the original for her to resume her role. Two script writers have tendered screenplays to producers.