GameStop faces online backlash for seeming to criticize Amazon Tomb Raider television series. The retailer questioned Sophie Turner's suitability for the role of Lara Croft, prompting widespread derision from social media users who took a dive at GameStop for even hesitating to cast her.
After two years of development difficulties, Amazon has confirmed that it is moving forward with live action Tomb Raider TV series in September 2025, p game of thrones star Sophie Turner in the title role. In mid-January 2026, Amazon MGM Studios shared the first look at Turner as Lara Croft, with the 29-year-old actress wearing the iconic teal top associated with the character.
PSA: You can now unlock one of Lara Croft's most popular outfits for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Tomb Raider fans looking to prepare for Legacy of Atlantis, the 2026 remake of the original game, can do so by unlocking Lara's classic skin in time.
GameStop claims that Sophie Turner is not Lara Croft in a bizarre tweet
On January 15, GameStop's official Twitter account retweeted the first photo of Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, stating “This is not Lara Croft”. The post drew a wide response from social media users, with many questioning why the company decided to comment in the first place. “Shut up, brand,” read one widely shared response from Twitter user Infinitethird, with hundreds of others sharing the same sentiment.
Some fans responded with sharper derision of GameStop. For example, Twitter user CodyLeachYT shared several photos of GameStop shelves full of cups, backpacks and Funko Pops along with the caption: “this is not a game room.” The post, a direct riff on GameStop's original tweet, received 144,000 likes and more than 6,200 retweets in the 24 hours since it was posted on January 16. As such, its engagement far surpassed GameStop's original post, which amassed 30,300 of the first 2,000 likes and ratings. CodyLeachYT's joke also sparked a backlash from the public urging GameStop to focus on staying in business rather than commenting Tomb Raider television series.
Based on GameStop's social media records, it's possible that his “this isn't Lara Croft” comment was intended more as a joke than a serious criticism of Turner or the upcoming TV show. However, the embattled retailer did not elaborate on his controversial tweet in any way shape or form. As Screen Rant noted, plenty of social media users took GameStop's message at face value, speculating that the retailer was “spearheading.”
The Tomb Raider TV Show is currently filming
Main photo at the live event Tomb Raider the streak officially began on Thursday, January 15. The show is filmed in London and at Shepperton Studios, located about 25 miles south-west of the UK capital. Based on typical turnaround times for modern big-budget productions of this nature, the first season of the live-action series should be ready to air by 2027. No additional seasons have yet been ordered. The show will be available exclusively on Prime Video.
In addition to Turner, Tomb Raider live series has confirmed more than half a dozen other castings so far, including Sigourney Weaver as Evelyn Wallis and Martina Bobb-Semple as Zip. Jason Isaacs will portray Lara's uncle Atlas de Mornay, while legendary Scottish actor Bill Paterson has been cast as her loyal butler Winston. Amazon MGM Studios has also confirmed the casting of British actor John Heffernan (Dickensian, Becoming Elizabeth) as David, a brand new character described as a jaded government official who ends up getting involved in Lara's latest adventure.
The Tomb Raider leads the series Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who serves as its showrunner and executive producer. The award-winning actress, screenwriter and filmmaker has previously won three major Emmys and two Golden Globes, among many other awards. Turner recently praised Waller-Bridge's contributions to the show, saying her involvement in the project meant everyone on board was in “very safe hands”.
- Showrunner
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Chad Hodge
- Writers
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge
