Aldis Hodge brings depth to Alex Cross role in Prime Video’s widely acclaimed series, “Cross,” which quickly claimed the top spot on Nielsen’s streaming ratings chart after its November debut. Hodge steps into the shoes of James Patterson’s renowned detective, previously portrayed by acting greats Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry, but carves out his own space by delivering a performance full of intelligence, physicality, sensitivity, and confidence, making it increasingly difficult to imagine anyone else as Alex Cross.
This character reboot came together through the singular vision of showrunner Ben Watkins, who saw Hodge as the definitive choice for the title role. Hodge’s depiction balances both emotional nuance and powerful presence, a blend that echoes through every aspect of Season 1 as audiences witness Alex Cross chasing complex cases while navigating personal turmoil.
Creating a Unique Interpretation of an Iconic Detective
Aldis Hodge approached the part by completely stepping away from prior versions, choosing not to model his portrayal on previous renditions but instead finding inspiration in the character’s personal authenticity. This artistic decision reflects Hodge’s commitment to originality and grounded performance.
“I think every actor has to maintain independent individuality when they approach any character, right? That’s the artist’s process,”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
Hodge further explained that building his version of Alex Cross meant digging into the core motivations and truths of the character, mapping those to his own life experiences, and letting honesty guide his creative choices. This process allowed him to connect deeply, focusing on the humanity at the heart of Cross and dismissing any distractions that might disrupt the authenticity required for such a layered role.
“So I just thought about the honest foundation of his desires, his wants. What is his current situation as a man? Where can I connect to those things personally with my own life experience? And then it becomes a really easy process from there. When you focus on the nucleus of a character’s honesty, it eliminates so many other factors that would serve to only deter your creativity. So really, you come up with your own version by not even trying to come up with your own version. You don’t focus on that. You just focus on the character’s honesty.”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
An Emotional and Demanding Debut Season
Season 1 places Detective Alex Cross at the center of a harrowing pursuit—tracking a killer with a disturbing pattern, while also managing the tension between a police department and the public, and raising his children alone after the unresolved murder of his wife, Maria. These pressures create a restless narrative, and Hodge’s extensive background as both a child actor and seasoned supporting actor set him up for this significant, emotionally demanding lead.
Through the course of the season, Hodge masterfully toggles between the intellect required for forensic psychology and the personal burden of grief and social responsibility. Viewers watch as Cross contends with the expectation to be a role model, as a Black police officer, while simultaneously navigating his own family’s pain. The role’s breadth allowed Hodge to flex his range, marking a milestone in his career progression. It is a responsibility that he acknowledges, yet he remains eager to dive even deeper.
“I probably should spend more time just sitting and, like, celebrating and taking it all in,”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
Hodge shows a constant drive for growth and improvement, reflecting his appetite for exploring more nuanced subject matter and for enriching the storytelling with layered characterization. As he looks forward, pushing boundaries remains at the forefront of his artistic process.
“But I have a voracious appetite for pushing the work and exploring the potential of really how much deeper we can push and how much more informed we can be about touching on the subject matter, how much more we can infuse nuance into how we do it.”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
A Character That Resonates with Confidence and Representation
The allure of Alex Cross for Hodge was evident from his first read of the script. While the show opens with a powerful interrogation where Cross uses his identity—both as a Black man and as a Ph.D. in psychology—to best a prejudiced suspect, it was Cross’s unapologetic confidence and refusal to self-justify that immediately stood out to Hodge. This first impression set the tone for his commitment to embodying the character.
“Coming off of some previous works, I had questions about how to just exist without addressing other societal norms that are deprivative,”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
Unlike roles that required justification for intelligence or skill in the face of societal bias, Cross’s ability to “just exist” as an elegant, articulate, and powerful man became foundational for Hodge. He saw in Cross attributes and qualities to aspire to and valued the significance of portraying a character that reflects this kind of representation on screen.
“Why do I have to always explain myself in the room? Why do I always have to have an excuse for my intellect, my brilliance, in the character? This washed away all of those things. He just existed. He was suave, he was smooth, he was elegant, eloquent, articulate, still edgy, still raw. Dominant, imposing without having to impose. He was the blueprint of the kind of personality or the kind of man that I would even aspire to be. So knowing that, and understanding what the value of that representation is and what it looks like, that’s what got me going. So I knew from just the first couple pages, yo, this is where I want to be. It’s what I want to do.”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
Redefining Heroism Through Imperfection
Although Cross’s skills could be seen as almost superheroic, it is his vulnerability that grounds him in reality, according to Hodge and creator Ben Watkins. Watkins envisioned a protagonist whose heroism lies not in perfection, but in the ability to struggle and rise after setbacks.
“Ben was saying there’s a difference between sort of the hero and the superhero, and he wanted to write a hero,”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
Hodge explores this concept by demonstrating Cross’s limitations alongside his strengths—whether it’s losing his temper, grappling with grief, or making mistakes. This portrayal makes Cross both more compelling and relatable than a typical superhero; he feels pain, doesn’t always succeed, but always perseveres.
“That’s what keeps him recognizable, and to me, far more interesting than somebody who throws every punch and lands every one of them.”
—Aldis Hodge, Actor
What Lies Ahead for the Series and Its Star
The first season of “Cross” has set a strong foundation for Aldis Hodge as both a leading man and as the latest face of an iconic literary detective. The show’s success has earned it a second season, already in post-production as fans await announcements about its release.
Aldis Hodge brings depth to Alex Cross role not only through an honest, grounded performance, but also by embodying a heroism that reflects modern complexity—struggles, triumphs, and everything between. With continued exploration, both Hodge and the character of Alex Cross promise to remain compelling presences within the detective genre and for viewers seeking authentic, resonant drama on screen.
