Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby Raid Tombs for GK Films

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby will write the first installment of the GK Films' "Tomb Raider" movies, the studio announced Thursday.

The movies are based on the "Tomb Raider" game first published in 1986.

Here's the announcement:

 

GK FILMS HIRES MARK FERGUS AND HAWK OSTBY FOR TOMB RAIDER REBOOT 

LOS ANGELES—May 5, 2011– Academy Award®- nominated writing team, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby will write the first feature of the newly announced reboot of the “Tomb Raider” film franchise. The films will create daring new adventures for the young and dynamic Lara Croft. Graham King and Tim Headington will produce. No casting has been announced.                              

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby’s credits include Alfonso Cuaron’s “Children of Men,” which earned them an Academy Award® nomination and Jon Favreau’s mega box-office success “Iron Man” starring Robert Downey Jr.  Their next film “Cowboys & Aliens,” also a collaboration with Favreau, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, is set to be released on July 29^th of this year.                                

“Mark and Hawk’s clear sensibilities of action and emotion are perfect for the direction we are taking this franchise,” King said.                                                                                                                                   

"We are thrilled to be working with Graham King and his formidable team — and we aim to write an origin story for Lara Croft that solidifies her place alongside Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor in the pantheon of great female action heroes” Fergus and Hawk stated.

"It is great to have such a high caliber of writing talent on board to realize the film vision of this exciting project," said Phil Rogers president & CEO, Square Enix Europe.

The original TOMB RAIDER game was published in 1996 by the London based video game company Eidos and became one of the most successful video games of the time.  Today Eidos (including Crystal Dynamics), is part of an international interactive entertainment group, Square Enix Europe and the stage is set for this new chapter in TOMB RAIDER history.                                                        

A pop culture phenomenon, the original games have sold over 35million game units worldwide and Lara Croft, along with Mario Brothers is the most recognized name in gaming history.   

Starring Angelina Jolie, Paramount Pictures made two movies based on the daredevil archaeologist on a series of global missions in 2001 and 2003.  They grossed a total of $432m at the worldwide box office.                    

Fergus and Ostby are represented by CAA.