Ahead of the Tomb Raider film reboot in March, a Lara Croft doll from Mattel will hit the store shelves soon with the preorders going live on Feb. 19.
The release of the merchandise, which IGN first reported, is in line with the upcoming debut of the new Tomb Raider movie starring Alicia Vikander. This indicates that the Lara Croft will feature the likeness of Vikander and not of Angelina Jolie, the first Hollywood actress to portray the iconic video game character.
"Mattel will be unveiling the doll at the Mattel Collector event during the New York Toy Fair ... The presale begins (Feb. 19) on Barbie.com, and collectors will be able to purchase the doll for $29.99," the online publication reported.
The Package Contents
The doll will jump out of the box, bearing the usual character package headlined by the familiar outfit seen by millions in the video game and movie versions. As if to preserve the popularized look of Lara Croft, her Mattel-crafted likeness will also feature the wrapped white bandages - one on the right arm and another on the left leg.
The toymaker will include some accessories such as a map, ax, journal, and doll stand to go with the product plus a Certificate of Authenticity. The latter document seems to indicate that Mattel is hoping for the Lara Croft doll to end up a collector's item.
It is unclear, however, if the doll's availability will be on limited status, which possibly will be dictated by consumers' reception.
Lara Croft Incarnations
Likewise, it is hard to predict how hardcore fans of the beloved game character will react to Mattel giving a touch of Barbie to Lara Croft. It could be that there will be howls of disapproval to arise but for the more accepting sectors, the doll could serve specific purposes.
For one, it would be a fine addition that will complete an avid fan's Lara Croft collectibles. In this respect, it's refreshing to note that Mattel's take on Lara Croft is the younger version in keeping with the reboot treatment of the upcoming movie.
Coming from Vikander, it was hinted that the Tomb Raider remake will trace the origin of the character, which again is in line with the new video game that is rumored for a 2018 summer release date. According to the actress, the new movie will tell the beginning of Lara Croft.
"She has all the fierce, tough, curious, intelligent traits ... But we've stripped away all of her experience. She hasn't gone on an adventure just yet. She thought she was a stuck up businessperson living in the modern youth culture of suburban London, but then this whole box of information. This is the beginning," Vikander said in an interview.
