Apart from being the Hollywood diva, Angelina Jolie is also known for performing a myriad of stunts, all on her own. The incredible actress with breathtaking beauty is also an epic stunt woman when it comes to dedicatedly performing her role in a movie. Evidently, Jolie stunned her crew when she did triple backflips on the set of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
However, despite giving her best in the 2001 movie, and further acquiring the reputation of an action star following Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Angelina Jolie failed to keep her presence intact in the $703M Lara Croft franchise. Despite setting records with her screen presence in the million-dollar movie series, Jolie ultimately got replaced, irrespective of being a prominent face of the action-packed franchise.
Angelina Jolie Stunned The Crew With Her Godlike Fitness
Several filmmakers in today’s day and age are taking inspiration from video games and delivering motion pictures as video game adaptations. However, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider appears to be the torch bearer of that particular movie genre. Being the first wild success in 2001, the franchise brought its first movie featuring Angelina Jolie.
Evidently, Jolie appeared to be the best choice for the franchise, since she gained the reputation as a female action star in Hollywood. Known for performing grueling stunts, all by herself, the actress nailed her performance in the 2001 movie. So much so, that her ambition and dedication stunned the entire crew.
“Angelina was doing triple back flips on the set. She was doing the bungee jumps from 50 feet up in the air. She was laughing.” film director Simon West mentioned.
Without taking a step back from performing dangerous stunts in the film series, the actress shocked the crew with her godlike fitness. “[Jolie is] absolutely fearless when it comes to high places…You can use her confidence with heights to put her in all kinds of dicey situations and know that she’s going to be convincing pulling it off.” West shared.
The $703M Lara Croft Franchise Replaced Angelina Jolie
Although the actress impressed the filmmaker and the entire crew of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, she eventually got replaced by the third installment. Appearing consecutively in the first two prequels, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003) Jolie was replaced in Tomb Raider (2018) with Alicia Vikander.
Despite performing plenty of chase scenes and action sequences in the franchise, Angelina Jolie was taken out of the film series. While rumors suggested that the actress didn’t wish to indulge in the dying franchise with her growing popularity, it was later revealed that the filmmakers and producers no longer found her fit for the role.
“It was never a story that had that moment where you could, you know what I mean? Pass the baton over. The studios, of course, said ‘is there a way to get Angie?… And I understand it for marketing and studios or whatever, but that never felt organic to our film. Something like that can tip the balance.” producer Graham King stated.
Thus, eventually trying to find an organic way to work, the $703M Lara Croft franchise replaced Jolie with Alicia Vikander, who seemed fit as the new Lara Croft, in the new sequel. While some had hoped to see Angelina Jolie in the movies, given her dedication and persona, the actress was unfortunately taken out of the franchise.
Source: Cinema, Cinemablend
