Features// Who Should be the New Lara Croft?

Poor old Lara. Everyone seems to think Tomb Raider's leading lady is past it – too old, not hip enough. Not only do the big bods at Eidos think she needs a reboot, now Warner Bros has decided to do the same thing in film. She needs to freshen up!

That means no more Angelina Jolie as England's finest archeologist. While SPOnG expects to be waiting a while for the casting given the stage of production the film's in, we thought we'd take a look at potential hot ch... respected actresses who could fill Lara's well-worn boots.

It's my task to present the group wisdom... here it is:


Megan Fox

The Internet's screaming for Fox to the point of embarrassment. And why not? She's definitely got the credentials. She looks the part, she's so hot right now (in, you know, a career sense) that you could boil yourself some Earl Grey off her stomach; and she has the requisite geek cred thanks to her appearances in Transformers and its upcoming sequel, Revenge of the Fallen.

There's something else, too. The most notable reboots in recent years have been Batman (as already noted by one Eidos exec) and Bond – both offering dirtier, grittier takes on their characters. Let's face it, there's something deliciously filthy about Megan Fox. With, you know, all the motor oil and suchlike in Transformers...

SPOnG has one major reservation – is she old enough? Really? She's 23. We know that Lara's been 'played' by younger models, but would an actress of Fox's age have the maturity to pull it off on the big screen?

It may be irrelevant, anyway, because a spokesperson for Fox has said, “She's not involved in the movie at all." Of course, given that there's not even a writer or director attached yet, it would be pretty surprising if any actors were involved at this stage...

SPOnG New Lara Rating: 4 from 5

Kate Beckinsale

There is an argument in the SPOnG office regarding Ms Beckinsale. Some say she's real hot, in just the right kind of way - sort of classy, like. Others say that she should never be allowed on-screen in a talking part ever again after the Underworlds.

She is, however, actually English, meaning that we wouldn't have to put up with an Americanised version of RP parlance. In fact, she's got a slightly posh British accent that would work perfectly for Lara. More than that, Beckinsale has an air of sophistication (she studied at Oxford, don'tcha know) befitting for an English lady.

She's also convincing as someone who could kick the living shit out of you. Maybe not in her publicity shots, but certainly when she donned PVC to run around shooting at Werewolves in Underworld and its sequel, Evolution. PVC... shooting stuff... the good things in life.

At 35, Beckinsale's also got the maturity to pull off a convincing Lara without giving her an air of... well, petrification.

The Englishness provides an additional 0.5 to her rating.

SPOnG New Lara Rating: 4.5 from 5

Rhona Mitra

Well, the picture says a lot, doesn't it? Casting Rhona Mitra as the next Lara Croft would be gloriously circular. Mitra is one of the lustrous ladies who has been hired by Eidos in the past to play the 'real' Lara Croft, making it really bloody difficult to deny that she looks the part.

She's recently bagged a couple of acting jobs that prove she's got the chops to perform in an action film – Doomsday and (making her our second candidate to have starred in an Underworld film) Rise of the Lycans. We'll be damned if we've ever seen a woman look so damn good in chainmail.

Call us obvious, if you like, but we reckon Mitra would do a sterling job as the next big screen Lara.

SPOnG New Lara Rating: 4 from 5