James Patterson’s beloved novels that follow the life of detective Alex Cross have officially made their way to the television screen, and those watching might just say it’s just as juicy as the books and film adaptations that came before it.
Set in Washington, D.C., the Prime Video series, Cross, starring Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, provides an interesting take on the classic character, and while it stays true to the books, it does provide a deeper look into themes affecting Black people today.
What is Alex Cross’ main goal in the series?
For example, across all eight episodes of the series, Cross’ North Star is his family, whether he is working to protect his children and Nana Mama (Juanita Jennings), or grieving his late wife, Hodge notes the intention put into his character to show that it’s OK to not be OK.
“We’re dealing with someone who’s a brilliant man,” Hodge told Blavity’s Shadow and Act in a recent interview. “He’s obsessively driven when it comes to his job and his work and his work ethic. But why is that? It’s because he has something more valuable and meaningful at home. I think his family is his North Star– his kids, [his] Nana Mama [and] his love for his wife who he’s grieving, but at the end of the day those are the anchors for him. And omebody who helps to monitor and balance all that energy out for him is his brother in arms, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa).”
Cross showrunner, Ben Watkins added to Hodge’s sentiment about his character’s right-hand man, explaining the significance of an emphasis on their relationship as friends turned brothers calling it a love letter to the Black brotherhood.
How is this adaptation different from previous ones?
“If you read the books, you see that lifelong friendship is a core piece, a foundational piece, of the Alex Cross series, and yet it hadn’t been reflected on the screen to the extent that I thought it could be,” said Watkins. “I think that in today’s day and age, it’s more needed than ever to see a reflection of two Black men who love each other. And it’s not a romantic love, but it is love, and it’s brotherhood. When I’m crafting a show, I think of the key elements. You think of a protagonist, you think of an antagonist, you think of allies, and you think of a love story. I realized the love story was the brotherhood between Cross and Sampson, so I leaned into that.”
As John Sampson, Isaiah Mustafa has no problem with putting his co-star in check, but in the most brotherly way possible. He says that the dynamic between the two is something that he hopes those watching pay close attention to.
“I just really hope people see this relationship between Alex and John, and can take from that, you know,” Mustafa said. “It’s not uncommon for two African American men to love each other in a brotherly love and to have each other’s back. I’ve heard Ben Watkins say that this is a love story in this series, but not a romantic love story. It’s a love story about friendship between two African American men and they just want the best for each other. That includes having those hard conversations to keep the other person accountable.”
All eight episodes of Cross Season 1 are now streaming on Prime Video. The series has already been renewed for a second season.
Watch our full interview with the cast below:
