Production on the upcoming Tomb Raider television series has stopped temporarily after lead actress Sophie Turner sustained an injury while filming. The Amazon Prime Video adaptation, which casts the Game of Thrones star as the iconic adventurer Lara Croft, went on hiatus in late March 2026 as Turner recovers.
Amazon MGM Studios confirmed the pause in an official statement shared with entertainment outlets including Deadline and Entertainment Weekly. The studio described the injury as “minor” and said the decision to halt production came from caution.
“Sophie Turner recently experienced a minor injury. As a precaution, production has briefly paused to allow her time to recover. We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible,” a studio spokesperson said.
Sources close to the production told multiple outlets that the filming break is expected to last about two weeks. Crew members will continue to receive pay during the shutdown while preparations remain in place for when Turner returns to set.
The Physical Demands Behind The Role
The injury connects to the intense physical preparation Turner underwent for the action-heavy role. The actress, 30, started training for Tomb Raider nearly a year before filming began in January 2026.
Turner spoke about her training schedule on The Julia Cunningham Show earlier this year. She revealed she had been doing eight-hour sessions, five days a week, since February 2025.
“We’ve been doing eight hours a day, five days a week, since February last year of training, so it’s been a lot,” Turner said during the interview.
She also mentioned discovering a pre-existing back condition during the process. “I’ve learned I have a perpetual back problem,” she said, adding that building muscle proved difficult since she had never worked out regularly before.
“It’s much easier to 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. That’s what I’ve learned.”
According to sources who spoke with The US Sun, Turner’s existing back issue worsened as filming progressed. An insider said the actress had pushed herself hard to meet the physical demands of playing Lara Croft.
“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 source said.
What This Means For The Production
The Tomb Raider series began filming in January 2026, with Amazon MGM Studios releasing a first-look image of Turner in character at that time. The show is shooting primarily in the United Kingdom.
While the studio described the injury as minor, some reports suggested varying concerns about the production timeline. PinkNews noted conflicting information, with one source claiming some crew members worried about longer delays. However, the official statement from Amazon MGM Studios emphasized the pause as brief and precautionary.
The series brings together an impressive cast alongside Turner. Sigourney Weaver joins as Evelyn Wallis, a mysterious woman who takes interest in Lara’s abilities. Jason Isaacs plays Atlas DeMornay, Lara’s uncle. The cast also includes Celia Imrie, Bill Paterson, and Martin Bobb-Semple as Zip, Lara’s tech support and friend.
Turner Joins A Legacy Of Lara Croft Performers
The Tomb Raider series marks the third live-action portrayal of the video game character. Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its 2003 sequel. Alicia Vikander took on the role in the 2018 reboot film.
When her casting was announced in January, Turner shared her excitement about joining that legacy.
“I’ve been a long-time fan of Tomb Raider and the character of Lara. She has always felt for me, very emboldened in a male dominated world. She’s a fierce female role model!”
Series creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for Fleabag, also expressed enthusiasm about Turner’s casting. Waller-Bridge serves as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner alongside Chad Hodge. Jonathan Van Tulleken (Shogun, Dope Thief) directs and executive produces.
Waller-Bridge said in a statement when Turner joined the project, “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.”
The Iconic Character’s Journey To Television
The Tomb Raider franchise began with the original video game released in 1996. The series followed archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft on dangerous expeditions around the world. The character became so popular that the Guinness Book of World Records named Lara Croft the “Most Successful Human Videogame Heroine” in 2006.
Six main games in the series were developed, with multiple reboots and spin-offs. The franchise expanded into films, comics, and now this television adaptation for Amazon Prime Video.
The new series draws from the deep mythology of the games while creating its own story. Production began in January 2026, and no official release date has been announced yet.
Looking At The Big Picture
While the production pause creates a temporary delay, the studio’s quick response and commitment to paying crew during the break suggests careful management of the situation. Turner’s dedication to the physically demanding role shows in the extensive training she completed before cameras even started rolling.
Fans who spotted Turner on set in the UK earlier this month saw her in full Lara Croft gear, raising excitement for the series. The first official image released in January showed Turner in the character’s signature tank top with a gun holster strapped to her thigh.
The series represents a major investment from Amazon MGM Studios and a significant role for Turner following her work in Game of Thrones, The Staircase, and the miniseries Joan. With the production pause expected to last only about two weeks, work on bringing Lara Croft to television audiences should resume shortly.
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