Netflix is teaming with Legendary Television on a pair of new anime series, including one based on Legendary’sKong: Skull Island, and one based on Square Enix’s hit video game franchiseTomb Raider.
TheTomb Raideranime series will follow Lara Croft on her latest globetrotting adventure, though plot details remain under wraps.Tasha Huo(The Witcher: Blood Origin) will write the script and executive produce alongsideDmitri M. Johnson(Sonic the Hedgehog) of dj2 Entertainment andJacob Robinsonof Tractor Pants, as well asStephan BugajandHoward Bliss. In the 25 years since its launch, theTomb Raidervideo game series has sold over 81 million copies, sparking a global franchise that includes movies, merch and comic books.
Meanwhile,Skull Islandwill be an animated adventure series that follows shipwrecked characters desperate to escape the most dangerous place on Earth – a mysterious island home to prehistoric monsters, including the greatest titan of them all, Kong.
Brian Duffield(Underwater) will write the latest chapter in Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise and executive produce alongside Robinson, while Powerhouse Animation (Castlevania) will serve as the animation studio on the project, which will arrive well afterGodzilla vs. Konghits HBO Max in March.
News of aTomb Raideranime series comes on the heels of MGM’s announcement thatMisha Green(Lovecraft Country) willmake her feature directorial debut with aTomb Raidersequelthat will once again starAlicia Vikander. With studios controlling the majority of marquee comic book characters, Netflix has been forced to get creative in getting its hands on top-tier IP, and one area they’ve targeted is video game adaptations, given the built-in fanbases that many games have.
Netflix is already mounting alive-actionResident Evilseriesas well as an animated series titledResident Evil: Infinite Darkness. It’s also developing live-action shows based onAssassin’s CreedandFinal Fantasy; an animated series based onSplinter Cell; an anime series based onSonic the Hedgehog; the anime movieThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf; and a live-action movie based onThe Divisionthat will starJake GyllenhaalandJessica Chastain.
