Aldis Hodge, Ben Watkins of "Cross" share what makes their Alex Cross special

Prime Video is betting that the small screen will be the right home for Alex Cross as the titular detective's new series “Cross” starring Aldis Hodge debuts Thursday.

Three attempts to capture author James Patterson’s massive Alex Cross thriller franchise flopped on the big screen. But Prime Video is betting that the small screen will be the right home for the titular detective with the new series “Cross,” starring Aldis Hodge, debuting Thursday. 

Hodge’s most notable TV roles include master hacker, computer specialist and gadgeteer Alec Hardison in the series “Leverage”; assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward in “City on a Hill”; and Noah in the slavery-era limited series “Underground.” But he said nothing he has done before is like his role as Alex Cross or “Cross” in general. 

“The person that he is, the man that he is, the depths that he gets to go emotionally are areas I haven’t been able to go to before,” Hodge told NBC News. “In this case, it’s no-holds-barred: We are going to the deep, dark places. We’re going to the fun places, the lighthearted places, the emotionally vulnerable places, as much as possible, as often as we can, to really paint a picture of who these characters are, what their lives are, in juxtaposition to what they do. We’re not just living with the case and the killer and the murder mystery.”

Ben Watkins and Aldis Hodge at the "Cross" global premiere in Los Angeles on Oct. 29.Chris Frawley / Prime VideoThat core world includes Cross’ two children, Damon and Janelle, who, like him, are still grieving the murder of their mother, Maria; his grandmother Nana Mama, who raised him and now helps raise his kids; his police partner and childhood best friend, John Sampson; and his love interest, Elle, who runs a nonprofit. Then there is his work. 

To create this much fuller world for the series, showrunner Ben Watkins turned to Patterson’s many books about Cross, the 33rd of which will debut just before Thanksgiving.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/alex-cross-aldis-hodge-ben-watkins-prime-video-rcna180023

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