Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie is back as Lara Croft, one of the world's most celebrated action heroines to ever hit the big screen, in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Principal photography on the Paramount Pictures presentation, in association with Mutual Film Company, began recently on the Greek island of Santorini. The film will open nationwide on July 25, 2003.

The first Tomb Raider movie had a fantastic opening grossing £3.8million in the first weekend. The massive blockbuster went on to gross nearly $300 million worldwide. Judging from the phenomenal success of the highly popular action-adventure, it was only a matter of time before the intrepid tomb raider was thrilling audiences again.

Brought to the screen by the original Tomb Raider producers, Lawrence Gordon (Die Hard, 48 Hours) and Lloyd Levin (Boogie Nights), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life is directed by Jan De Bont (Speed, Twister), and stars Angelina Jolie (Girl Interrupted, Original Sin) along with returning cast members Noah Taylor (Vanilla Sky) and Christopher Barrie (Red Dwarf). Gerard Butler (Timeline), Ciaran Hinds (The Road To Perdition, The Sum of All Fears) and Djimon Hounsou (The Four Feathers, Gladiator) join the cast of the film, which is executive produced by Jeremy Heath Smith (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider).

"The combination of an action director like Jan De Bont and our greatest asset, Angelina Jolie, makes this the perfect marriage," says producer Lawrence Gordon. "In addition, we have an incredibly inventive story that entertains and advances the characters." "We're raising the stakes significantly with the sequel, telling an edgier, more dangerous and exciting tale," adds producer Lloyd Levin. "Lara is taking us on a wildly ambitious journey this time, and I'm especially looking forward to watching Angelina rise to the challenge."

The Cradle of Life develops the character of aristocratic Lara Croft, the beautiful sexy heroine of Eidos Interactive's phenomenally successful, Tomb Raider game series. For an action director like Jan De Bont, the film is exactly the kind of roller coaster ride that made his reputation.

"I have always been in love with the Lara Croft character in Tomb Raider and was convinced it would make a fantastic franchise," says De Bont.