Alicia Vikander is to star as Lara Croft in the new Tomb Raider movie.

The Swedish actress has signed to play the role of the archaeologist-adventurer in a reboot from Norwegian director Roar Uthaug.

Alicia Vikander with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars
Alicia Vikander with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Ian West/PA)

Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley was rumoured to be in contention for the role after she told the Hollywood Reporter in March that there had been “conversations” about her replacing Angelina Jolie as Lara.

Angelina was the first actress to bring the popular video game character to life on the big screen. Both of her Tomb Raider films were poorly received by critics, but the first was a big box office success.

Angelina Jolie promoting Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life in 2003
Angelina Jolie promoting Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life in 2003 (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP)

Alicia had a breakout 2015 with roles in films like the mind-bending thriller Ex Machina and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

She is fresh off of an Oscar win for her supporting performance in the period drama The Danish Girl.

Alicia can also be seen this summer in the new Jason Bourne film.