Yamatai Island

Lore & Background

Yamatai was once ruled by Himiko, the mythical Queen of Yamatai, who was said to command the power over life and death. Himiko was an asymptomatic carrier of a parasitic pathogen, but the Oni are supernatural guardians, not transformed humans, and the Stormguard are a distinct group of human warriors. She was entombed by her followers to prevent the spread of the pathogen. The tomb remained unseen for over seventeen hundred years until Mathias Vogel's expedition, funded by the Solarii Brotherhood, located it. The Solarii sought to harness Himiko's power for their own ends. Lord Richard Croft, Lara's father, visited and conducted research on Yamatai before his death. The island is treacherous, with violent storms, rapids, and a waterfall that nearly kills Lara after she survives a shipwreck.

Reader's Guide

Yamatai Island is the central location of the 2018 film Tomb Raider. It is a remote island in the Devil's Sea, accessible only by braving violent storms. The island features dense jungle, rapids, a waterfall, and the ancient tomb of Himiko. Key locations include the wreck of a wartime airplane, the Trinity camp, and the tomb itself, which contains booby traps and Himiko's sarcophagus. The island is controlled by Mathias Vogel and his slave force, who are searching for the tomb. Lara must navigate the island's dangers, evade Trinity soldiers, and ultimately destroy the tomb to prevent the pathogen from spreading. The island serves as the crucible where Lara transforms from a bike courier into a tomb raider, confronting her father's legacy and the deadly power of Himiko.

Did You Know?

• The film's waterfall sequence involving the plane was filmed at a waterpark at Lee Valley, outside London, at a venue built for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Wilton House near Salisbury in Wiltshire was used as the location for exterior shots of Croft Manor.
• Alicia Vikander was cast as Lara Croft in April 2016, with Norwegian director Roar Uthaug coming on board in November 2015.
• The film's composer, Tom Holkenborg, signed on in June 2017 after being removed from Justice League.

Origins of the Survivor Trilogy

The 2018 film Tomb Raider is based on the 2013 video game of the same name, with some elements of its sequel. It serves as a reboot and the third installment in the Tomb Raider film series. The film stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, who embarks on a perilous journey to her father's last-known destination, hoping to solve the mystery of his disappearance. The film was directed by Roar Uthaug and written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons. Principal photography took place from January to June 2017 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England, and Cape Town, South Africa, with additional location shooting across London, particularly East London.

Yamatai Island and the Solarii Brotherhood

In the film, Yamatai Island is the location of Himiko's tomb. The island is not depicted as having a cult called the Solarii Brotherhood; instead, it is controlled by Mathias Vogel and his expedition, funded by the shadowy organization Trinity. Vogel leads a group of armed soldiers and uses enslaved workers to search for the tomb. The island is treacherous, with violent storms, rapids, and a waterfall. Lara encounters Vogel after washing ashore, and he claims to have killed her father. The island's history is tied to Himiko, the mythical Queen of Yamatai, who was said to command the power over life and death. Himiko was an asymptomatic carrier of a deadly pathogen, and she entombed herself to prevent its spread.

Survival Mechanics and Character Progression

The film does not depict survival mechanics or character progression in the way a video game would. However, Lara Croft's journey on Yamatai involves physical survival: she survives a shipwreck, rapids, a waterfall, and a plane wreck. She uses her wits to escape captivity, infiltrate the Trinity camp, and navigate the tomb's booby traps. She also demonstrates combat skills, fighting Mathias Vogel and forcing him to swallow Himiko's finger before kicking him into a pit trap. Her progression is emotional and psychological, as she reunites with her father, learns the truth about his disappearance, and ultimately destroys the tomb to prevent the pathogen from spreading.

Critical Reception and Commercial Legacy

The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $275 million worldwide, approximately the same unadjusted total as the 2001 film of the same name and more than its 2003 sequel, a figure considered its break-even point. A sequel was initially in development with Vikander set to return, but was cancelled in 2022 after MGM's rights to the Tomb Raider series expired, while Vikander stepped down from the role. Another reboot film, set to be part of a shared universe that will include a television series and a video game, is in development at Amazon MGM Studios.