Bold New Vision for Alex Cross Highlights Mental Health and Brother In The Black Community at New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con is packed with fans who are hooked on the stories they love — and one of those big stories is James Patterson’s Alex Cross.
We’ve seen Alex Cross come to life in three different adaptations. Morgan Freeman portrayed him twice in the psychological thrillers Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, and then Tyler Perry rebooted the character in 2012's Alex Cross. Now, Aldis Hodge steps into the role, bringing an intensely suspenseful, emotional, and compacted new take.
This new series is backed by Patterson, but transformed by Ben Watkins and Aldis Hodge. The duo have full creative freedom, taking Cross in new directions that go beyond the boundaries of past adaptations. The storyline itself is a fresh start: a new case, with some classic characters ready for their moments. There’s a balance between honoring the familiar while breathing new life into this iconic character. “I always wanted that flexibility where I can tap into what’s happening now,” Patterson said.
The show follows Cross and his best friend and partner John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) as they hunt down a sociopathic serial killer who’s trying to create a legacy by memorializing the deaths of past killers. But this isn’t the only case Cross has to deal with. He’s still haunted by the unsolved murder of his wife. As he edges closer to unraveling, the past resurfaces, forcing him to confront it head-on.
What’s striking here is that Patterson and Hodge aren’t trying to make Cross a perfect hero. Instead, they’re humanizing him. Cross’s relationship with Sampson grounds him, as Sampson constantly reminds him that he’s not okay. This creates space for Cross to acknowledge his grief. “Sampson is the guardian of Cross’s mental health,” said Mustafa. Sampson may be fiercely loyal, but he’s not afraid to call Cross out, pushing him to confront his struggles. “It’s rare to see Black men on television holding each other accountable like that,” Mustafa added. “For Sampson to say, ‘Look, get it together — what you’re doing isn’t right,’ that’s real love.”
This portrayal also gives us a more layered and fleshed-out Sampson. He’s blunt, intelligent, and real. He doesn’t have it all together himself, but he’s stepping fully into his own character. “These two genuinely love each other as people,” Mustafa said, and it’s not just on screen.
And beyond all this, we have an incredible Black cast. Actress Samantha Walkes spoke about what it means to work on a show that celebrates Black culture and showcases such powerful Black characters. “This show offers so much — not just to our community but to us as people,” she said. Watkins’s vision pushes for a show that empowers the Black community and Walkes couldn’t be more certain about the impact it will have.
Cross debuts November 14 on Prime Video.
