Dear Mr. Simon West and Paramount Pictures,

We, the devoted fans of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), respectfully request the release of the director’s cut of the film. From multiple sources we know that Simon West’s original edit of the movie was far more expansive than what hit theaters. Reports confirm West’s first cut was roughly 130 minutes long – far longer than the 100-minute theatrical release. This extended version was, in fact, completed: West told Empire magazine in July 2001 that he had “done the DVD version already and there’s extra stuff in that”. Paramount even announced that the upcoming DVD would include many deleted scenes. All evidence shows a genuine director’s cut exists, containing Simon West’s full vision for the film.

What Was Cut – Missing Scenes and Content

The differences between the known version and West’s cut are substantial. Deleted footage seen in trailers and production stills hints at richer scenes (for example, an elaborate opening title sequence was filmed but cut at the last minute). Early drafts and DVD extras indicate even more: Lara’s private moments were trimmed (a nude shower scene outside was shot and later removed), and a handful of “British humor” scenes (jokes deemed too quirky for U.S. audiences) were cut out. Angelina Jolie herself noted that Lara’s sexual allure was toned down – many playful sequences (even one where Lara distracts villains with a flash of her breasts) were written but never filmed or included. In short, the final cut sacrifices character depth, humor and connective storytelling for fast-paced action. Fans have identified specific missing moments – an unreleased bungee-dance sequence in the mansion, longer fights, and a dreamlike dive into the planetarium room – that would help round out Lara’s journey.

Despite these cuts, only four deleted scenes (7 minutes total) ever appeared as DVD extras, far fewer than promised. Simon West himself said he prepared an alternate DVD cut “including a lot of deleted scenes,” but it was never released. In Empire he even mused that a true director’s cut “might be tonally different in some areas”. Clearly, a more complete version filled with character moments and the original tone was intended – yet to this day the public only knows the heavily edited theatrical film.

Why the Director’s Cut Has Been Held Back

The path to a director’s cut has been blocked by production turmoil. In post-production, Mr. West was removed from the editing room and veteran editor Stuart Baird was brought in to re-cut the film. Baird’s version was drastically shortened to about 100 minutes, reportedly leaving some effects unfinished. Compounding the problem, Simon West revealed that half of his footage was stolen in a 2000 break-in at his home – including tapes with scenes from Tomb Raider. (West told the Sunday Express his rucksack containing two or three reels of film was stolen.) No official explanation has been given for the missing material, but it is believed some original takes are irretrievable.

Paramount’s own statements at the time gave fans hope that the footage would surface. A 2001 TombRaiderChronicles report cites Paramount saying West had **confirmed the DVD would “sport over 14GB of special features including many scenes which never made the final cut.”** Instead, most of that content mysteriously disappeared: only a handful of short clips were released. To this day, the full “extra” footage remains locked away. Studio politics likely play a role: an expensive re-edit with a tough cost-benefit analysis, uncertain market demand, or rights issues may be factors. But from a creative standpoint, the film’s lost scenes, score, and tone belong to West’s original vision and deserve a proper release. As West himself acknowledged, fans were “horrified” that the DVD differed from the theatrical cut – a clear sign that something important was withheld.

Fan Passion and Community Campaigns

Lara Croft inspires fierce loyalty, and that fan energy is driving this petition. Across forums and social media, fans regularly plead for the director’s cut. For example, one dedicated viewer on the ResetEra forum wrote: *“Simon West actually wanted to do an extended director’s cut (and allegedly may have prepared one) but Paramount remains sadly uninterested in releasing it, which pains me so much. Release the West cut, Paramount!”*. This cry – “Release the West cut, Paramount!” – is echoed by countless others in fans’ posts, tweets and comments. Enthusiasts share clips of deleted scenes, discuss rumored footage (like the Beautiful Opening Title), and even tag Angelina Jolie and official Tomb Raider channels, hoping to get their attention.

Online petitions and birthday messages (for example, fans tweeted on Angelina’s birthday asking Paramount to “give us the 130-minute original version” of Lara Croft) demonstrate sustained grassroots demand. Even video game sites and retrospective reviewers now note the film’s growing cult following and lament that the director’s original intention has been buried. We have seen other franchises benefit from director’s cuts (restored Terminator, Blade Runner, etc.), and Lara Croft deserves no less respect. Our community is united: we want to celebrate Simon West’s full vision of Lara, not just the truncated studio version.

Our Plea to Paramount and Mr. West

For these reasons, we join in urging you to unlock and release the director’s cut of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. We promise this will be enthusiastically received: fans will eagerly buy a special edition Blu-ray or stream; it will reignite interest in the franchise and validate Simon West’s artistry. A faithful, completed version of the film would honor Lara Croft’s legacy and repay decades of fan devotion. We ask Paramount to allow Mr. West (or a qualified editor) to assemble the existing footage and bring the lost scenes to light. Even if some material is missing, piecing together the longer cut with what remains – exactly as West envisioned – would be a historic gift to fans.

In short: We want Lara’s full adventure. We want the scenes that were filmed but never shown, the emotional beats that gave Lara more depth, and the original tone that West intended. An official Director’s Cut would silence the long-running fan debate and finally show the world the movie that was promised.

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge Mr. West and Paramount Pictures to release Tomb Raider: Director’s Cut. Let Lara Croft’s story be complete at last.

Sincerely,

Fans of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider