Aldis Hodge explains why he did not watch theAlex Crossmovies before taking onCross. The new Prime Video series is based on James Patterson’sAlex Crossnovel series, chronicling the story of the titular protagonist who uses his forensic psychology skills to analyze killers' minds to track down murderers. Hodge is the latest actor to portray the titular role, andCross’s supporting castincludes Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, and Samantha Walkes. Before the TV series,the novels were previously adapted into the filmsKiss the Girls,Along Came a Spider, andAlex Cross.
Speaking withVariety, Hodge explained why he did not watch theAlex Crossmovies before acting inCross. The actor explained that in any acting job, he prefers to “always keep a barrier so [he] can do [his] job.” Thismeant only sticking to the series itself, “without outside influence"like watching the films first. This way, “there’s nothing that is impending or impeding [his] own process.” Check out the full quote from Hodge below:
No. What I like when it comes to any job that I do is always keep a barrier so I can do my job. So as I move forward, season after season after season, there’s nothing that is impending or impeding my own process. I like to keep it my own, organically, without outside influence. So it’s more about making sure that I can protect the character that I’m playing and creating and stepping into.
What This Means For Cross
The TV Series Is Different From The Movies
Hodge’s desire to “protect the character” is important since his version ofAlex Cross is very different from that of either Tyler Perry or Morgan Freeman. These differences are also structurally present inCrossseason 1, which delves into the main character’s family life with far more depth than any of the movies ever did. For this reason alone, it would not make sense for Hodge to copy the previous iterations and even draw inspiration from them because they are so different from his own version.
Cross Season 1 Ending Explained: Maria’s Real Killer & What Happens With Ed Ramsey
Cross season 1’s ending moments not only reveal who killed the titular character’s wife Maria but also reveal the truth behind Ed Ramsey’s purpose.
Another good reason for Hodge to stay in his own world forCrossis that the previous book adaptations were not necessarily well-received. The Perry-led 2012 filmAlex Crosswas a particularly egregious example in this regard, as the film holds a just barely double-digit Tomatometer of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, the box office forAlex Crosswas so low thatit caused the proposed sequel to be canceled. For this reason, it is for the best that Hodge did not look at these films for inspiration.
34%
62%
32%
53%
11%
47%
CrossSeason 1 (2024)
75%
73%
Our Take On Hodge’s Cross Interpretation
CrossIs The Best Adaptation So Far
What resulted from Hodge’s character study is an interpretation of Alex Cross that is arguably one of the more grounded of any iteration. So far, this has paid off well for the Prime Video series, asCrossgot renewed for season 2before season 1 even went on air.Crossalso has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of anyAlex Crossadaptation so far, sitting at 75%, serving as more evidence that Hodge made the right call on hischaracter.
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.
