CAMERAS ROLLING ON TOMB RAIDER II
Copyright 2002 www.tombraiderchronicles.com

[ July 17th 2002 ]

Stephen Jaggs, managing director of Britain's Pinewood Studios and the auspicious home of Europe's largest sound stage, has confirmed filming has begun on Paramount Pictures Tomb Raider movie sequel during a lavish Hollywood celebration heralding 90 years of film-making by Paramount.

Commenting on the prosperous relationship between Pinewood Studios and Paramount Pictures, Jaggs said: "They [Paramount] are undoubtedly one of the most important film studios in the history of American film-making and along with Disney, MGM, Fox, Columbia, Universal and 20th Century make up the big seven. We have recently worked with them on the Mission Impossible films and are currently filming Tomb Raider Two. We have enjoyed a long and super relationship with Paramount."

Tomb Raider II, tentatively named The Cradle Of Life [working title], will also shoot on location in China and Africa with Speed director Jan de Bont helming the Lara Croft franchise vehicle. Former Oscar winner Angelina Jolie returns as buxom British gunslinger Lara Croft sent on a perilous mission to rescue the world from the exploits of an evil Chinese crime syndicate led by oriental crime lord Chen Lo.

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.