James Patterson’s bestselling crime and mystery series Alex Cross has become a famous work of art since its introduction in 1993. The series has 32 books, two novellas, and three books centered on Alex’s son Ali. Despite its wild success, the adaptation for the screen has been lackluster. Morgan Freeman starred in Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, yielding poor results, and the 2012 reboot Alex Cross was unsuccessful at the box office.

Now everyone's favorite Washington D.C. detective is headed to the small screen. With the studio responsible for modern crime-fighting shows such as Reacher behind the wheel, this character can finally be given what he deserves. This new medium will give the characters time to grow. Here is everything you need to know about Cross.

Editor's Note: This piece was updated on February 6, 2024.

Does 'Cross' Have a Release Date?

Although Cross has been developing with input from the author James Patterson and executive producer and showrunner Ben Watkins (Burn Notice) for the last two years, the series has finally begun production. With filming starting in January 2023, we must wait for an official release date. It seems likely that Cross will premiere sometime in 2024, likely in the late spring or summer.

Where Can I Watch 'Cross'?

The series is currently being produced by Amazon MGM Studios alongside Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television, which brought us other book adaptations such as Reacher and Jack Ryan. With Amazon backing the series, that means it will air exclusively on Prime Video. The studio has done a fantastic job with these other series, and hopefully, these skills are transferable to Cross.

Who Will Star in 'Cross'?

Aldis Hodge (Black Adam) will play the titular Alex Cross. Hodge follows in the footsteps of Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption) and Tyler Perry, the previous two Alex Cross actors. Filling out the cast are Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist) as Ed Ramsey, Isaiah Mustafa (It: Chapter Two) as John Sampson, Alona Tal (SEAL Team) as Kayla Craig, Johnny Ray Gill (Underground) as Bobby Trey, Eloise Mumford (Fifty Shades of Grey) as Shannon Witmer, Siobhan Murphy (Murdoch Mysteries) as Tania Hightower, Sharon Taylor (Fire Country) as Lt. Oracene Massey Stacie Greenwell (Mayor of Kingstown) as Det. Shawna De Lackner, Melody Hurd (Fatherhood) as Janelle Cross, Juanita Jennings (A Man Called Otto) as Regina 'Nana Mama' Cross, Caleb Elijah (True Story) as Damon Cross, Jennifer Wigmore (Dream Scenario) as Chief Anderson, and Samantha Walkes (Orphan: First Kill) as Elle Monteiro.

Having starred in numerous TV series such as Leverage (and its spin-off Leverage: Redemption), City on a Hill, Underground, and TURN: Washington's Spies, Aldis Hodge told Collider's Christina Radish that Cross is his favorite TV series he has worked on.

“I will say, as far as TV series go, this has been my favorite TV series, and I mean that honestly. Fully, truly, intently, this has been the best, in terms of character development. I’ve been looking for this for a while. As an audience member and then also as an actor, I’m excited to see how people respond to it, because I know what’s there, and I’m so proud. This has been the best TV show I’ve ever been a part of in my career, and I’ve been a part of some really great productions. I’m shooting Leverage right now. Leverage is near and dear to my heart, and always will be. I love Leverage. But Cross is in a different space. There’s a different responsibility with Cross that is a new step in my career. That, I think, is what I’m most excited about. I know how it was managed, but I want to see the fruits of the labor and see how it’s carried out.”

Who Is Making 'Cross'?

It has already been revealed that creator James Patterson will actively develop the series. One of the most common critiques from fans of the other Alex Cross adaptations was that the movies moved too far away and took too many liberties from the source material. Patterson's involvement will curb some of those patterns, but you still need to expect the TV series and book to differ. The producers for the series include Bill Robinson (James Patterson's Murder Is Forever), Patrick Santa (Help Me Rhonda), David Ellison (Foundation), Dana Goldberg (Top Gun: Maverick), and Bill Bost (Reacher). Additional executive producers are Sam Ernst (Daredevil), Jim Dunn (Haven), and Craig Siebels (Burn Notice).

Aldis Hodge has also been very involved with the series' creative process, telling Collider:

"Our character development is pretty well-established at this point already. At this point, it’s mostly the casting and the regular producorial things of getting the looks down, costume, hair, all that kind of stuff. Really, the primary thing in this stage for us is casting."

Hodge also praised Ben Watkins' creative process, saying:

“Every project has its own set of concerns and anxieties and rewards that come with them. Going into any project, there’s always going to be the weight of making sure that it’s good and that it’s quality, and then, once you give it to the world, that you stand behind it, and you’re super proud of it. With Cross, I can tell you how amazing that production was from top to bottom, from our captain, Ben Watkins, our showrunner, all the way down to the final finished product. I’m so very excited. Between Cross and Marmalade, it’s a fortuitous year, and I’m very grateful.”

This group of producers is uniquely qualified to work on this project. Most have worked on other crime and mystery-themed TV series, and many are working on similar projects. Vernon Sanders, the head of global television at Amazon Studios, stated:

James Patterson is among the best at captivating audiences with his undeniably enthralling novels. We are confident that with Ben Watkins’ artistic vision, Cross will do the same for our global customers. 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. Alex Cross will be added to the collection and collaboration between Amazon, Paramount Television Studios, and Skydance Television.

What Do We Know About the Plot of 'Cross'?

Amazon is advertising the series as a “complex, twisted, and pulse-pounding thriller.” As Alex Cross is both a detective and a forensic psychologist, the show can be expected to delve deep into the psychological state of the villains. In the series, Alex Cross often has profound and involved relationships with his villains. Part of this is his unique knack for understanding sociopaths, and the other part is the personal connection to crime after the assassination of his late wife, Maria. The series is expected to balance both the investigatory side of Alex Cross and a few more action elements. The near-obsessive Alex Cross will likely be motivated by losing his wife, but that quest for vengeance has been known to get him into trouble.

While talking to Collider, Hodge teased that the series would be "edgy," saying:

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“We are edgy. We are as edgy as it gets. We do not skip away from the edges. We give you real thrills, real excitement, real danger. We are as edgy as it’s gonna get.”

Will 'Cross' Adapt Anything From the Books?

For fans of the series, this is one of the critical questions that people would like to know and would give substantial insight into what we can expect to see in the series. While author James Patterson is working with the production, much hasn’t been released regarding the source material.

The first book in the series is Along Came a Spider. The book came out in 1993 and covered the teacher kidnappings of Maggie Rose Dunne and Michael Goldberg. That book includes a split personality and a seemingly unconnected murder, which would certainly be enough to entertain any audience. A film of the same name already covered this book, so the series may choose to start in another place.

The second most likely place for the series to start is Cross. While the 2012 movie has also covered this book, it has a lot of links to Alex Cross’s past as he investigates a serial rapist at Georgetown at the request of his now-former partner, John Sampson. Both books have logical reasons for audience appeal and a continuing storyline for the series to build on, but at this point, it is just speculation.