“Cross” star Aldis Hodge instructed Buzzfeed that he was “shocked” when it was just lately revealed that creator James Patterson turned down a seven-figure deal provide to show his e book character, police detective Alex Cross, right into a white man when he was initially procuring the primary e book round. Hodge now performs the character in Prime Video’s collection adaptation of Patterson’s e book collection.
“I used to be shocked, impressed and happy with that,” Hodge stated of Patterson’s reveal. “For me to step into these footwear, any time I step right into a place of energy or illustration, it looks like a privilege and a duty that I’m honored to even be tasked with. I simply need to carry that the proper manner.”
Hodge additionally credited his “Cross” showrunner Ben Watkins for “celebrating the entire belongings and sides of the Black group” on the present “in numerous ways in which we haven’t actually seen, or that we not often get to have interaction [with].”
“He made that the material of the present,” the actor added. “I’m proud to be with a crew that believes in the identical values that I do, particularly in the case of the illustration of the tradition. Stepping in his footwear is simply one other alternative to disprove stereotypes, signify the reality of who we’re and assist proceed to open up doorways of alternative. That’s what it means to me.”
“Cross” dropped all eight episodes of its first season on Nov. 14. Amazon Prime Video reported earlier this month that 40 million viewers watched “Cross” throughout its first 20 days of streaming availability, which makes the present its third-biggest season premiere of 2024 after “Fallout” Season 1 and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy” Season 2.
Patterson was chatting with THR in November when he revealed {that a} seven-figure provide wasn’t going to steer him to show Alex Cross right into a white man. Because the creator defined: “I stated, ‘Fuck you.’ It was painful, however I did it.” Patterson added that he didn’t need to make Cross white as a result of “that wasn’t who he was.”
Prime Video’s “Cross” has already been renewed for Season 2. The primary season is now streaming.
