CAST WHO?: "Tomb Raider" Replacement & Reinvention

You've probably heard by now that Warner Bros. is looking to revive the Tomb Raider franchise--mostly likely in an attempt to fill the female superhero void thats starting to grow wider with every caped and spandexed crusader that hits the screen. I mean, aside from Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, there doesn't seem to be any other female-driven action film on the horizon.

Unfortunately, they're not looking to re-up Angelina Jolie's contract. I'm not sure if it's because:
1) She's too expensive now that she's practically A-list,
2) She has--count 'em--six kids,
3) Or she's been gunning for an Oscar for the last two years and can't be bothered with low-grade action films.

I would cancel out #3 if only because she's rumored to be attached to a Bourne-type thriller, slated for 2010. Number two can get nixed since, according to her, the more action she does, the more her sons thinks she's awesome. That leaves us with numero uno, but I can't imagine that they wouldn't be able to afford her. With the revival of the franchise and the almost certain revision of the video game, they should be able to cover her salary and execute a graphically impressive action film.

Maybe, just maybe, it's because she's a 33-year-old woman who looks like she's in her mid-40s--hot, but old. I mean, the woman played Colin Farrell's mother in Alexander--his mother, not his older sister, his mother. Perhaps, they're interested in someone who can hold up the franchise for a longer period of time and with a little more dedication, someone who's willing to spend six months promoting the film and playing the PR game, someone who has absolutely no obligations whatsoever.

Either way, one thing is for sure: they aim to reinvent the character the same way that Chris Nolan turned Batman into a Dark Knight and McG transported the Terminator franchise from the present into the future. According to the producers, Lara Croft won't have the same personality, background, enemy, love interest or mission anymore. So basically the only thing that's staying the same is her signature uniform and her profession. Hmmm.

So what young lady should be blessed with a sure-fire three-picture deal? Everyone is, of course, name-dropping the uber mysterious vixen Megan Fox. But for some reason, I have no recollection of ever actually hearing that girl speak. I'll give her credit for holding her own and not playing the damsel in distress in Transformers, but can she carry an entire movie practically by herself? I dunno. Any other suggestions?