Goggins played the villainous archaeologist and treasure hunter turned mercenary Mathias Vogel in 2018’s Tomb Raider reboot, in which Alicia Vikander replaces Angelina Jolie as the iconic Lara Croft. Though his introduction is somewhat understated, Vogel is Lara’s enemy and Tomb Raider‘s main antagonist. While the movie received mixed reviews for its far-fetched plot (even for a Lara Croft movie) and uneven pacing, Goggins stole the show with his portrayal of Vogel, who just wants to do his job and go home to his family, regardless of the cost to others.
Walton Goggins’ Vogel Is One Of The Best Things About 2018’s Tomb Raider
Vogel Is Different To More Ego-Driven Lara Croft Villains
Goggins’ character is introduced in a disarmingly casual way, even when he reveals that he killed Lara’s father and then shoots one of his own men dead. However, throughout Tomb Raider, Goggins’ performance increases Vogel’s intensity until it rivals Lara’s. Vogel’s one ambition is to see his family again after spending seven years in Yamatai, searching for the lost grave of Himiko. Over time, his mission changed him from a pitiable figure to a psychopathic murderer, and Goggins’ portrayal of Vogel’s character progression from inertia to obsession was one of the best things about the movie.
Walton Goggins had never played the Tomb Raider videogames, or seen any of the Angelina Jolie Lara Croft movies before signing up to play Vogel in Tomb Raider .
Goggins plays Vogel in a very distinctive and world-weary way deliberately. In a Tomb Raider featurette, Goggins describes Vogel’s situation as being “a Wednesday in the longest week of his life,” and, in an interview with Screen Rant, Goggins explained his portrayal of Tomb Raider‘s Vogel, saying that the misery his character felt had given way to numbness, leaving Vogel “devoid of feeling.” Vogel is unlike many other ego-driven Lara Croft villains in that he doesn’t care about the artifact, only the fact that he can go home once he has found it.
Walton Goggins Is Great In Tomb Raider But Even Better In Fallout
Vogel And The Ghoul Are Similar Characters
Goggins uses his skills as a character actor to bring subtlety to Tomb Raider‘s Vogel, who dresses practically and is not covered in make-up or visual effects. On the other hand, The Ghoul is an iconic character in Fallout, but Goggins has to act his way through full-face prosthetics. Goggins also plays Cooper Howard, The Ghoul’s past human form, and while playing The Ghoul, Goggins slowly brings in elements of Cooper. Goggins is excellent as the cold-blooded Vogel in Tomb Raider, but The Ghoul is a more nuanced character, and Goggins is even better in Fallout, stealing the show.
The Ghoul and Vogel are not dissimilar, as both characters have lost their humanity after a long period of separation from their families (though the entire world has changed in Fallout, giving The Ghoul a lot more to mourn.) Even while fully human, Cooper Howard is shown to go to extreme lengths to keep his family, while Vogel will stop at nothing to return to his. However, Vogel dies a monster, while the monstrous-looking Ghoul seems to start rediscovering his humanity as the events of Fallout season 1 progress, even showing mercy, which Vogel would not do.
Why 2018’s Tomb Raider Never Got A Sequel (Was It A Flop?)
It Is Possible For Walton Goggins To Return To Tomb Raider (But Not As Vogel)
Though a sequel to Tomb Raider looked set to happen, the project was canceled. However, this is not necessarily because Tomb Raider was a flop. Tomb Raider earned a 52% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While this score is somewhat modest, it is significantly better than Lara Croft: Tomb Raider‘s 20% positive rating – a total which proved enough for another Jolie Tomb Raider to be made. MGM lost the rights to make the Lara Croft sequel due to concerns over time and budget, as they were unable to greenlight the sequel in time, and Tomb Raider just about broke even, earning $274.7 million worldwide.
Movie
Budget
Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes Score
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
$115 million
£274.4 million
20%
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003)
$95 million
$160.1 million
24%
Tomb Raider (2018)
$90-106 million
$274.7 million
52%
Hayley Atwell will play Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft, and there will be a live-action Lara Croft show on Amazon. There are more Tomb Raider stories to tell, and though Vogel is dead, Goggins could return as another character. Early in his career, Goggins played four different characters in episodes of the police drama In the Heat of the Night, and his dual character in Fallout shows that he can still play other versions of characters in the same production. This precedent suggests Goggins may yet appear in a Lara Croft sequel.
News
“We miss him”: Kevin Costner’s Frustrating Feud With Taylor Sheridan is Not the Only Problem Yellowstone Cast Faced Along the Way
Luke Grimes discussed the emotional impact of continuing Yellowstone without Kevin Costner and what the future holds for the Dutton family. All good things must come to an end. It’s an age-old phrase, but when you’re standing at the crossroads…
Taylor Sheridan’s Ego Killed Yellowstone: John Dutton’s Fate Cements Why the Series Will Never Be Red-State ‘Succession’
Taylor Sheridan fails to live up to his reputation and Yellowstone falls from its pedestal as Kevin Costner leaves to finish his own failing Horizon saga For Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstone Season 5B is a slap in the face. Despite his severe hatred…
You Wouldn’t Believe How Much Money Kevin Costner Lost Willingly by Quitting Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Series
Kevin Costner’s exit from Yellowstone Season 5 took fans by surprise, leaving behind a massive paycheck and the iconic role of John Dutton. Imagine having the world at your feet—money, fame, the kind of career most actors would only dream…
Yellowstone Cast Members Salary: Is Kevin Costner the Highest Paid Actor on Taylor Sheridan’s Show?
The salaries of Yellowstone cast members, including Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, and Kelly Reilly, along with the highest-paid actor revelation. Since its premiere back in 2018, Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount series Yellowstone has been making waves and has been busy becoming wildly popular…
“Incredibly cathartic and beautiful”: Kelly Reilly May Have Already Hinted How Yellowstone Ends as Our Worst Fears Come True
Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton on Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, let slip a few hints about the future of the show as it nears its end. We’ve always been told that life’s a journey, not a destination. But what if…
‘Agatha All Along’ Scene Joe Locke Considers as “emotional peak for Billy” is Also Show’s Most Gut-wrenching Sequence
Joe Locke reveals the most emotional scene he did in Agatha All Along was also the most challenging to film. Disney+’s Agatha All Along ended on a major cliffhanger, and as intense as the previous episodes have been, it was also an…
End of content
No more pages to load