Production of the highly anticipated £100 million Amazon Prime television adaptation of Lara Croft has been thrown into significant turmoil following a serious injury to its lead actress, Sophie Turner. According to multiple reports, filming at Shepperton Studios has been halted for an entire month after Turner, the 30-year-old star best known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game Of Thrones, aggravated a pre-existing back injury while on set.
Recovery Concerns and Production Delays
There are growing concerns within the production team that Turner may require up to six months to fully recover from this setback. The actress had been undergoing intensive training for over a year to prepare for the physically demanding stunts required for the iconic Tomb Raider role, following in the footsteps of previous portrayals by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander.
A Complex Replacement Dilemma
With a substantial portion of the reboot already filmed, producers are reportedly facing a difficult decision regarding potential recasting. A source close to the production told The Sun: 'It's been chaos on set and now the whole show is in jeopardy. Sophie has been throwing herself into the role but the gruelling physicality of being Lara Croft has meant she has pushed her body too far.'
The insider added: 'Many on set fear Sophie may have to be replaced altogether now, as she may not bounce back in time. It's been a hugely physical role and pushed her to the limit. But so much has already been shot that it's causing a real headache for producers.'
Turner's Previous Injury Revelations
Sophie Turner had previously disclosed during an appearance on The Julia Cunningham Show that she discovered a recurring back problem during the demanding training regimen that began in February of last year. 'We've been doing eight hours a day, five days a week since February last year, of training. Yeah, so it's been a lot,' she revealed.
The actress explained: 'I've learned I have a perpetual back problem, but I also realised that it's much easier to kind of build muscle if you've ever worked out before in your life, which I never had, so it has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape.'
From Game of Thrones to Tomb Raider
Despite her extensive experience on the HBO fantasy series, Turner insisted that her years on Game of Thrones did little to prepare her for the physical demands of the Lara Croft role. 'No, I was the cool queen who, like, didn't have to do that. I also just kind of was the one that got beat up, not the one doing the beating,' she said. 'So, it's quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it.'
Creative Team and Casting Background
The ambitious project is being spearheaded by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who serves as creator, writer, and executive producer. Waller-Bridge announced Turner's casting last September with considerable enthusiasm, stating: 'I'm so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team.'
She continued: 'It's not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out, Croft is coming.'
Turner joins an impressive ensemble cast that includes veteran actors Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs in this major video game adaptation. The Daily Mail has reached out to both Sophie Turner's representative and Amazon Prime for official comment regarding the production delay and Turner's condition.
