Ben Watkins and Isaiah Mustafa Talk Reinventing Cross In New Prime Video Series
Cross is bringing a fresh take on Alex Cross. Here we see a character familiar to many, but also inviting to new audiences. Pop Culture Planet’s Makkedah Ramsey spoke to director and creator Ben Watkins and actor Isaiah Mustafa, who plays John Sampson, about what makes this Cross different and how they’ve both challenged themselves and their audiences to shape this world in their own unique style.
Over the years, Black perspectives have evolved on screen, with characters increasingly reflecting the rich diversity of Black experiences. If you ask me, seeing characters like Scandal's Olivia Pope and Insecure's Issa Dee on screen is a big deal. One key feature of Cross is the careful attention given to each character, making sure they feel real and not just pieced together from ideas about how Black people are typically represented in media. “It was a major priority for me to reflect a Black community that I was familiar with,” said Watkins. “I feel like sometimes we create characters that try to capture the whole Black experience in one person and I don’t think that’s possible.”
It’s not only about giving characters depth, but also showing layers of humanity, especially within Black communities. For Watkins, directing this story was special because it included roles from various parts of the Black community. “I would rather lean into their experience specifically rather than have them represent all of us,” said Watkin, whos saw this project as a rare opportunity. “I get the chance to show the full breadth of our experience.” Each character is fully realized and essential, making every perspective in this story come together to reflect the real world.
One of the show’s mainstays is Alex’s best friend Detective Sampson, played by Isaiah Mustafa. The relationship between Alex and Sampson stands out, especially in Black media. After losing his wife, Alex is struggling and it’s Sampson who encourages him to see someone about it—something rarely shown in Black communities. “I hope people can see that it’s a lot easier than you think,” said Mustafa about taking on a role that he hopes resonates with viewers. “We let [our connection] be organic and natural and I think that’s why you see this true friendship on screen—because there’s a true friendship off-screen.”
With this version of Alex Cross, Watkins wanted to breathe new life into the character. He admits he was familiar with Cross before this opportunity, but once he did more research, he immediately wanted to bring something new to the story. He was intentional with the new mysteries he introduced, giving them the chance to tell stories relevant to today. Beyond the mysteries, he looked closely at Alex’s relationships, especially his “incredible, lifelong friendship with John Sampson that gives us a vehicle for exploring masculinity, Black masculinity, friendship, and history.” Watkins made sure the series would convey a message, starting with Alex Cross as a character who balances intelligence, charm, and a natural swag. “He’s got a genius intelligence, but that doesn’t mean he can’t also be physically capable and have a bit of sexiness to him,” said Watkins.
Casting Alex Cross was one of the most crucial parts of completing this series. “Aldis Hodge was born for this part,” said Watkins. “I’d been following his work, on and off screen, and thought he captured the qualities I wanted in the role. But I didn’t think he’d be available.” Fortunately, Hodge was in the right place at the right time. “He came to the meeting thinking he’d have to convince me to cast him and I came to the meeting thinking I’d have to convince him to take the part.”
Cross is streaming on Prime Video.
