James Patterson Praised for Rejecting Whitewashing of Alex Cross in Early Adaptation Deal

The bestselling author turned down a lucrative offer to preserve the integrity of his Black protagonist, now portrayed by Aldis Hodge in Prime Video's hit series.

• James Patterson revealed he declined a seven-figure offer to adapt his Alex Cross novels after being asked to make the character white, stating, 'That wasn’t who he was.'
• Actor Aldis Hodge, who stars as Alex Cross in Prime Video’s adaptation, expressed pride and admiration for Patterson’s decision to maintain the character’s authenticity.
• Hodge highlighted the series’ commitment to celebrating diverse facets of the Black community, crediting showrunner Ben Watkins for weaving these themes into the fabric of the show.
• The first season of 'Cross' has been a major success for Prime Video, garnering 40 million viewers in its first 20 days and ranking as the platform’s third-biggest premiere of 2024.
• The series has already been renewed for a second season, with plans for long-term storytelling that honors the original book series while introducing new narratives.

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