Key Takeaways
- Cross on Prime Video diverges from James Patterson’s books but maintains essence of characters.
- The decision to create new mysteries for Cross’s series was met with approval and potential success.
- Fans get to enjoy fresh content with familiar characters, promoting longevity for the series.
Cross launched on Prime Video on November 14, 2024, and the early reviews have been very positive. All episodes of season 1 are available to stream now, and a second season has already been confirmed. James Patterson’s Alex Cross books provide the basis for the series, but in a bold move, the creative team behind the crime drama have decided not to directly adapt the books, and this looks like a good idea based on the finished product.
Michael Connelly’s Bosch: Legacy and Lee Child’s Reacher have become huge successes for Prime Video, and both series used the books as a blueprint for their storylines in each season. This has worked really well, but it doesn’t mean Cross should have gone in a similar direction, and in fact, the choice to do things differently is actually a positive.
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Why Isn’t Cross Adapting James Patterson’s Books?
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Cross |
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Starring |
Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Eloise Mumford, Samantha Walkes, Jennifer Wigmore, Alona Tal, Ryan Eggold, Johnny Ray Gill and Juanita Jennings |
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Based on the books by |
James Patterson |
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Created By |
Ben Watkins |
The big decision not to adapt James Patterson’s books into Prime Video’s new iteration of Alex Cross has been met with surprise from some fans, with so many books to choose from. The obvious choice would be to follow this direction, especially on Prime Video, where Bosch and Bosch: Legacy as well as Reacher have used to model very successfully. However, Cross showrunner Ben Watkins has explained exactly why they chose to take this unique approach with Cross, in an interview with TVLine:
Looking back, it was a risky decision at the time, but a great decision. It was risky because it meant it was going to take more work, and we were going to have to really match the reputation of the Alex Cross series, which is legendary. I read the books, and had been thinking, “Which one would be good for an adaptation?” But then I started thinking that I really want to be able to take these characters and the world that’s been created and tell a story that fits
our
day and time, and the topics and the themes that are prominent right now.
The Decision To Carve Out A New Mystery For Alex Cross In The Television Series Is A Good Idea
There are often discussions about how close a series or movie based on books has come to living up to the source material, but that won’t be the case with Cross, and it’ll free up the creative process moving forward. What works for other shows, doesn’t necessarily work for all shows based on books. The focus can be on getting the characters right, and the rest will follow. Watkins explained his approach in more depth:
I went to James Patterson and I said, ‘Hey, Mr. Worldwide Bestseller, I’d like to take the characters and the world, but I’d like to curate our own story’. I was a little nervous about how he would react, but he actually loved that idea. And he put it in terms that totally makes sense: ‘Fans of this series are going to get the characters they love. They’re going to get the world they’re familiar with. But now they’re going to get a story that’s wholly new, so it’s kind of almost a bonus’.
This is very interesting as it frames Cross as an extension of James Patterson’s book series. The fans of the books get something completely different that they don’t have to try and match up to the source material they love so much. As for new fans, they can discover the book series and also get something different. It sounds like a great approach to have, and one that could lead to longevity for the series. Also, there’s nothing set in stone that means Cross can’t explore certain books at some point in the future. The show has the look and feel of James Patterson’s world and that should be enough to satisfy the fans.
What Is Cross Season 1 About?
Cross Season 1 is sub titled ‘Hero Complex’ and it sees the forensic detective, Alex Cross, chasing down a serial killer known as Fanboy. He is supported by his close friend and colleague, John Sampson, and the events take place a year after the devastating death of Cross’ wife.
All Episodes Of Cross Season 1 Are Available To Stream On Prime Video Now
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