Amazon orders Waller-Bridge’s ‘Tomb Raider’ & remakes C4 format amid unscripted push

Phoebe Waller-Brodge in Fleabag

Amazon has made a series order for its Phoebe Waller-Bridge penned adaptation of Tomb Raider and unveiled a raft of unscripted shows, including a remake of a Channel 4 format.

The retail giant used its inaugural Upfront presentation in New York today to confirm the Tomb Raider series, with Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) set as writer and executive producer.

The show comes from Dmitri Johnson and Legendary, which is behind an anime adaptation of Tomb Raider at Netflix. Prime Video’s show will be available globally and is being produced by Crystal Dynamics and Amazon MGM Studios, with cast yet to be attached.

The Boys (Source: Amazon)

Its storyline is unclear, with Amazon saying that show will be “based on the iconic Tomb Raider video game franchise, which follows the adventures of world-famous archaeologist and adventurer Lara Croft.”

Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games have previously announced a collaboration to develop and publish a new multiplatform game spun off from the IP.

Waller-Bridge said: “If I could tell my teenage self this was happening I think she’d explode. Tomb Raider has been a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly privileged to be bringing it to television with such passionate collaborators. Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”

Amazon & MGM Studios boss Jen Sale added that the show would be “globe-trotting” during the Upfronts presentation, with Waller-Bridge and Jen Robbins exec producing via Wells Street Productions.

During a busy Upfront, the retailer also confirmed its order for Noir, based on Marvel’s Spider-Man Noir comic. It is being produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (Source: Prime Video)

22 Jump Street‘s Oren Uziel and Shantaram‘s Steve Lightfoot are showrunners, with Killing Eve‘s Harry Bradbeer directing and exec producing the first two eps.

The show, which follows an ailing private investigator (Cage) in 1930’s New York City as he deals with his past life as a superhero, is set to debut in the US on the linear channel of MGM+ before becoming available on Prime Video globally.

Amazon MGM Studios head of TV, Vernon Sanders, said the show offered a “uniquely special opportunity” to expand the Marvel universe.

The retail giant also confirmed an extended 11-part third season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, as well as a second season of Mr & Mrs Smith.

A fifth season of The Boys is also in the works, while a second run of Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power has been slated to debut on Prime Video on 29 August.

Amazon’s unscripted push

There were also a raft of unscripted series unveiled by Amazon, including a remake of UK format Buy It Now.

The show originated in 2017 on Channel 4 having been created by The Traitors prodco Studio Lambert.

The Amazon version will be hosted by Curb Your Enthusiasm star JB Smoove and is a business pitch show that sees entrepreneurs vying for space within the retailer’s online store. Studio Lambert and Amazon MGM Studios produce.

Jeopardy!

Other new unscripted shows include gameshow Wish List Games, which sees contestants trying to win their Amazon wishlists.

A spin-off from veteran gameshow Jeopardy!, titled Pop Culture Jeopardy!, has also been greenlit with production from Sony Picture Television.

Lauren Anderson, Amazon MGM Studios’ head of AVOD originals unscripted and targeted programming, said: “We are excited to expand our slate of classic, nostalgic titles and look forward to making more dreams come true through our original IP.”

Elsewhere, Coach Prime has received a third season and four sports-related docs are also on the slate, including an untitled show about NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt Senior from Imagine Docs.

A+E Factual Studios is behind the untitled doc exploring the history of EA Sports’ Madden NFL video game; Words + Pictures are producing Game 7, which delves into iconic sporting moments; and Chiefsaholic is a sports/true crime show about a Kansas City Chiefs fan and bank robber.