Between Jack Ryan, Without Remorse, and Reacher, Amazon's Prime Video streaming service is quickly becoming the go-to destination for great action franchises featuring literary characters. Next up is James Patterson's Alex Cross, and Aldis Hodge has officially been tapped to play the hero.
Titled Cross, Variety (via ActioNewz.com) reports that the series, described as a thriller, will feature a lead who is "brilliant, flawed, and full of contradictions. A doting father and family man, Cross is single-minded to the point of obsession when he hunts killers. He is desperate for love, but his wife’s murder has left him too damaged to receive it."
News of this series first broke in January 2020, and casting the Black Adam star suggests Prime Video is taking the project seriously. The actor brings some serious star power to the show and will also serve as a producer.
Working behind the scenes is Ben Watkins, and he will write, executive produce, and serve as Cross' showrunner. His previous credits include the likes of Hand of God, Burn Notice, and Truth Be Told.
"James Patterson is among the best at captivating audiences with his undeniably enthralling novels and we are confident that with Ben Watkins’ artistic vision, Cross will do the same for our global customers," said Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Amazon Studios.
"We are proud to work with James and Ben alongside Paramount Television, Skydance, and the extremely talented Aldis Hodge, who we know will do an exceptional job of bringing Alex Cross to life."
As we're sure you'll know, this isn't the first time Alex Cross has appeared on screen. Morgan Freeman played the character in two movies in the late 1990s/early 2000s, while Tyler Perry then took over in 2012's poorly received Alex Cross. That casting decision raised a lot of eyebrows among fans of Patterson's work, but Hodge taking on the role is definitely exciting.
Fingers crossed he, John Krasinski, Michael B. Jordan, and Alan Ritchson all get a chance to team up down the line, eh? For now, stay tuned to ActioNewz.com for updates.