The “Emily the Criminal” actress-producer apparently was so convincing in the Sundance action-drama that pal and fellow filmmaker Edgar Wright thought she was cast in the newest “Tomb Raider” film. Plaza’s cover story for MovieMaker magazine and stern-faced, tank top-clad look is what led Wright to reach out. “My friend Edgar Wright actually saw that and texted me and said, ‘Oh my god, you’re the new Lara Croft? You’re the new Tomb Raider?’ That’s the character in ‘Tomb Raider.’ And I was like, ‘No, Edgar. That’s my movie, ‘Emily the Criminal,’” Plaza shared during “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.“ Plaza added, “And he genuinely thought I was cast as the new ‘Tomb Raider.’ And then I looked it up and they actually are casting this role right now. And I was like, ‘Well there you go. The new Tomb Raider, whatever.’”

The “Spin Me Round” star also joked, “They asked me to be on the cover of Vogue but I said, ‘No, I’m doing MovieMaker.’” Related Paul Schrader Assumed ‘Emily the Criminal’ Was a Spin-Off of ‘Emily in Paris’: I ‘Somehow Confused’ the Two on Netflix Aubrey Plaza Explored Italy While ‘Tripping Balls’ with Meghann Fahy During ‘White Lotus’ Filming Related Guillermo del Toro’s Favorite Movies: 45 Films the Director Wants You to See New Movies: Release Calendar for December 23, Plus Where to Watch the Latest Films
Host Fallon pulled up a side-by-side image of Plaza and Angelina Jolie in the original “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” attire circa 2001. “I could actually see this happening,” Fallon explained. Even Wright tweeted that it was “100 percent true” about believing Plaza was going to be Lara Croft. Well, Plaza very well could be cast in an upcoming franchise installment after lead star Alicia Vikander exited the role following her 2018 reboot film. MGM recently returned the “Tomb Raider” rights to producer Graham King and his GK Films after owning the IP for nine years.

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) August 9, 2022   Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.