HOLLYWOOD,
Calif., Sept. 19-- Oscar(R)-winner Angelina Jolie is
back as Lara Croft, one of the world's most celebrated
action heroines to ever hit the big screen, in
"Lara Croft and The Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider
2." Principal photography on the Paramount Pictures
presentation, in association with Mutual Film Company,
began recently on the Greek island of Santorini. The
film will open nationwide on July 25, 2003.
The first "Tomb Raider" movie had the
biggest opening ever for a film with a female star,
grossing $47.7 million the first weekend. The massive
blockbuster went on to gross nearly $300 million
worldwide. Judging from the phenomenal success of the
highly popular action-adventure, it was only a matter of
time before the intrepid tomb raider was thrilling
audiences again. Brought to the screen by the original
"Tomb Raider" producers, Lawrence Gordon
("Die Hard," "48 Hours") and Lloyd
Levin ("Boogie Nights"), "Lara Croft and
The Cradle of Life" is directed by Jan De Bont
("Speed," "Twister"), and stars
Angelina Jolie ("Girl Interrupted,"
"Original Sin") along with returning cast
members Noah Taylor ("Vanilla Sky") and
Christopher Barrie ("Red Dwarf"). Gerard
Butler ("Timeline"), Ciaran Hinds ("The
Road To Perdition," "The Sum of All
Fears") and Djimon Hounsou ("The Four
Feathers," "Gladiator") join the cast of
the film, which is executive produced by Jeremy Heath
Smith ("Lara Croft: Tomb Raider").
"The combination of an action director like Jan
De Bont and our greatest asset, Angelina Jolie, makes
this the perfect marriage," says producer Lawrence
Gordon. "In addition, we have an incredibly
inventive story that entertains and advances the
characters."
"We're raising the stakes significantly with the
sequel, telling an edgier, more dangerous and exciting
tale," adds producer Lloyd Levin. "Lara is
taking us on a wildly ambitious journey this time, and
I'm especially looking forward to watching Angelina rise
to the challenge."
"The Cradle of Life" develops the character
of aristocratic Lara Croft, the beautiful sexy heroine
of Eidos Interactive's phenomenally successful,
"Tomb Raider" game series. For an action
director like Jan De Bont, the film is exactly the kind
of roller coaster ride that made his reputation. "I
have always been in love with the Lara Croft character
in Tomb Raider and was convinced it would make a
fantastic franchise," says De Bont. "To have
an incredibly exciting heroine like her is the most
ideal thing for a director like me. Add to that Angelina
Jolie, who is both talented and daring enough to do her
own stunts, and we have something really amazing."
Dean Georgaris' script is based on an original story
by Kirk Petruccelli & Lloyd Levin. Stemming from the
Eidos Interactive Game Series developed by Core Design,
"The Cradle of Life" pits Lara Croft against
her greatest challenges and dangers yet, and her
physical prowess is tested as never before. During the
course of filming this exciting installment of the Lara
Croft saga, the production will travel from Hong Kong to
Kenya and from Wales to Greece. In addition, elaborate
interior and exterior sets, built at the production's
home base, Pinewood Studios, located outside London,
will bring the world of Lara Croft vividly to life.
