Aldis Hodge learn that James Patterson turned down a seven-figure deal for Alex Cross — and he’s impressed.
The actor, who stars in Prime Video‘s Cross replace based mostly on the prolific writer’s novels, instructed Buzzfeed that he didn’t know Patterson had finished that till the story was revealed in The Hollywood Reporter in November.
“I used to be shocked, impressed and pleased with that,” he mentioned of Patterson’s reveal. “For me to step into these sneakers, any time I step right into a place of energy or illustration, it looks like a privilege and a duty that I’m honored to even be tasked with. I simply wish to carry that the precise method.”
Hodge defined that he’s been fortunate sufficient to be with the precise group on the mystery-thriller collection, citing showrunner Ben Watkins, who “prioritized celebrating all the belongings and aspects of the Black neighborhood in several ways in which we haven’t actually seen, or that we hardly ever get to have interaction [with].”
“He made that the material of the present,” the Black Adam star added. “I’m proud to be with a group that believes in the identical values that I do, particularly relating to the illustration of the tradition. Stepping in his sneakers is simply one other alternative to disprove stereotypes, characterize the reality of who we’re and assist proceed to open up doorways of alternative. That’s what it means to me.”
Hodge’s feedback come a month after Patterson revealed to THR that when he wrote the primary Alex Cross ebook, he didn’t have some huge cash, and Hollywood got here knocking on his door. They provided him seven figures for the character rights however with the caveat.
“They mentioned, ‘We simply need one change; we wish Alex to be a white man,’” the writer recalled. “And I mentioned, ‘Fuck you.’ It was painful, however I did it.”
It took a number of years earlier than a chance like that arose for him once more. Then, Paramount approached him, and, collectively, they created two movies in regards to the character, starring Morgan Freeman: 1997’s Kiss the Girls and its 2001 sequel Along Came a Spider.
When requested why he refused to make the Black detective a white man, he merely acknowledged, “That wasn’t who he was.”
He recalled rising up within the small city of Newburgh, New York, and the way he befriended a Black chef named Laura, who was having issues together with her husband and ended up residing with him and his household for 3 or 4 years.
“I’d watch Hollywood and, in these days, there was Sidney Poitier — OK, effective, he’s dignified — after which plenty of motion pictures with Black individuals with increase containers. Really?” he mentioned. “That was not my expertise in Newburgh. So I began writing about this household that I knew and the city that I knew.”
Patterson is an govt producer on the Prime Video collection created by Watkins, the latter who instructed THR he already has a four-year plan for the reboot. “We need this factor to go for 10 seasons, however in my head, I had already made a four-year plan, and it’s based mostly on some issues that I wish to do to mine and pay homage to the characters which might be within the Alex Cross ebook collection,” he mentioned. “Even although I’m doing new tales, I would like in some unspecified time in the future for there to be a dovetail between these characters, so I’ve been planting these seeds.”
Cross has already been greenlit for a second season. All episodes of Cross are actually streaming on Prime Video.
