Aldis Hodge is the third actor to bring Alex Cross to the screen, but he says Prime Video’s forthcomingCrossshow will offer fans a different take on James Patterson’s forensic psychologist. Based on the best-selling series of crime novels, Morgan Freeman was the first actor to tackle the role in movie adaptations of 1997’sKiss the Girlsand 2001’sAlong Came a Spider.Tyler Perry later succeeded Freeman, ashe headlined 2012’sAlex Cross. Meanwhile, Hodge’sCrossseason 1 is scheduled to begin streaming on November 14, with season 2 already confirmed prior to its release.
Talking withScreen Rantat this year’sNew York Comic-Con,Hodge spoke about how his character will differ from Freeman’s and Perry’s versions. Hodge explained that the episodic television format allowsCrossto fully explore the various aspects of his character, from his work as a detective to his family life and role as a father. Suggesting that his character’s “potential is never ever fully exhausted,” he says that the ever-evolving nature of the show helps keep him interested and happy in the role. Check out his comments below:
I think that, for me, I see our execution of Cross as just one element, which is the vast fullness of his entire world it’s alluding to, if we get to explore that. We get to see the cop, not only that, we get to see the father, we get to see the family man, the friend. We get to see the vulnerable person that may not have all the answers, and is still trying to find out. I get to play a very full-scale being who is intentional, sometimes makes a mistake here or there, but he gets to be honest, and that’s the thing that I love the most.
So, the fact that we get to explore that episode by episode by episode means that the potential is never ever fully exhausted. We have different levels to go. Every episode, every season, there’s more potential to me, and we keep meeting it and keep beating it. So it keeps me interested, it keeps me full, as an artist. It keeps me satisfied and, honestly, very happy.
What Cross’ TV Format Means For James Patterson’s Detective
Aldis Hodge Could Deliver The Most Faithful Alex Cross
With Patterson’sAlex Crossbook series currently consisting of 32 novels and two novellas,the three previous movie adaptations have only just scratched the surfaceof the wealth of source material that Hodge’s show can draw upon. Moreover, Detective Cross’s tragic family life is something that has only previously been touched upon in Perry’s iteration of the character. Even then, 2012’sAlex Crossonly managed to depict the murder of his character’s first wife, Maria, and was limited in its ability to provide a more detailed exploration of the lasting impact of her death on his eldest children.
However,Cross’s new television formatalready looks poised todeliver a more faithful and complete adaptationof Patterson’s crime-solving character. Already the series has cast former NFL-player-turned-actor Isaiah Mustafa as Cross’s childhood friend and fellow detective John Sampson, a role that was rewritten as Edward Burns’ Detective Tommy Kane in Perry’s movie and severely diminished in 1997’sKiss the Girls.
Our Take On Aldis Hodge’s Comments
The Alex Cross Movies Never Really Did The Character Justice
Over the years, movie and television audiences have had no shortage of fictional detectives being lifted directly from the pages of best-selling novels, includingfellow Prime Video franchiseReacher. However, Patterson’s Alex Cross has never really been given the kind of adaptation his character deserves. Despite Freeman’s movies delivering moderate box office success, bothKiss the GirlsandAlong Came A Spiderfell flat with critics. Meanwhile, Perry’sAlex Crossnot only suffered similar reviews but also failed to recoup its original $35 million budget.
10 Best Detective TV Shows Based On Crime Books, From Sherlock To The Lincoln Lawyer
While there have been many endearing and exciting shows about detectives, some were originally thrilling novels that were then adapted for television.
However, Hodge’s insistence thatCross’s episodic television format will finally help deliver a more complete picture of the character bodes well for fans of Patterson’s novels. Moreover, it is a sense of confidence that Prime Video seems to share, given thatCrossseason 2 has already been confirmed before season 1’s release.
Cross
Cast
Cross follows the life of Alex Cross, a skilled yet troubled homicide detective balancing his role as a devoted father and relentless crime investigator. Haunted by his wife’s murder, he navigates personal turmoil while persistently pursuing justice in the face of dangerous adversaries.
