RYAN EGGOLD: Totally, yes.
Its really fun, acting wise, to relish in that villainy, as well.
EGGOLD: Yes and no.
Nothing gets in the way of his blind ambition, which is fun.
Were there times when it was a lot?
This will be a fun day at work.
Image via Prime Video
The writing was just excellent, at every turn.
‘Cross’ may not reinvent the crime show, but it’s elevated by Hodge’s winning performance.
EGGOLD: Its so true.
Its time to take a break and assess and look around and see what were doing.
And then, this just came along.
I was shootingNew Amsterdamup until Christmas in December, and then I was shootingCrossin early January in Toronto.
Image via Prime Video
It was pretty quick.
I dont know how I would have felt if I didnt do it.
I probably would have rationalized it to myself and been like, That guy sucks.
But Im really grateful I did it.
And then, once I met Ben, I was like, Oh, yeah, this guys amazing.
Hes smart and hes grounded and hes very egoless and collaborative and just really fun.
Image via Prime Video
I should also mention Kim Coleman, whos the casting director.
You dont do that.
EGGOLD: Yeah, exactly.Now Ill be typecast as serial killers forever.Well see.
I went into a play afterCross, and that was a totally different experience.
That was a great new challenge.
Which Scene Helped Ryan Eggold Understand His ‘Cross’ Sociopath?
Image via Prime Video
I dont remember exactly.
Once I saw that turn of him using his charm to be Mr. Thats when I got really excited about it.
This dynamic is the best thing about ‘Cross.’
Hes an interesting contradiction because he is this lethal predator who can trap whatever prey hes after.
But then, at the same time, he also likes to play with his food.
Hes not just striking them and killing them immediately, hes keeping them around and playing with them.
Image via NBC
Ironically, that is also then their weakness.
These grandiose delusions are what end up being his greatest weakness and his Achilles heel.
EGGOLD: I definitely wasnt super specific.
Detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross is pulled back from family leave to hunt a dangerous serial killer after the tragic loss of his wife. Set in Washington, D.C., the series follows Cross as he uses his expertise to delve into the minds of criminals. Amazon’s adaptation promises a mix of psychological intrigue and intense crime-solving drama, blending elements of James Patterson’s books with a fresh storyline.
There were a couple of things that I was thinking.
He was like a psychotic Ken doll who just wanted to be perfect.
That was the blond hair and the manicuring of himself and the way that he also manicures his victims.
That was also somebody that I was looking to.
What was that like to figure out, as characters and as actors?
She was so great about it.
Hes not hiding the fact that hes a killer or what his plans are, or anything.
Theres a closeness there that was really interesting and fun to explore.
And really messed up to watch.
EGGOLD: Yeah, I bet.
Its a weird thing.
And then, theres that Stockholm syndrome that kicks in, where you feel a kinship with your captor.
It was just a very interesting dynamic.
Was that always what that scene was going to be?
EGGOLD: I have to give credit to Ben and the writers.
Thats what they wrote, and that scene was always intended to be that way.
It was such a great twist because it was so simple.
It was like, Okay, hes done and gone, and then the Terminator comes back again.
And it was in such a way that now hes got even less to lose.
And so, now the rails are off.
And then, I was like, What?!
They wrote so many great surprises.
And then, there was the twist with the piano teacher that they wrote.
They just wrote a great thriller.
Aldis Hodge stars in the Prime Video series.
There are so many interesting layers going on in that scene.
Having him come off the table and be naked was almost like being born again.
Now, hes shed even more of himself and is just full on in who he is.
Theres such interesting symbolism with that, whether it was intentional or not.
EGGOLD: I think youre right.
Hes naked, as his true self, ready to completely embody his ruthless pursuit.
What was that like to shoot?
Did that dynamic come naturally, between you and Aldis Hodge?
EGGOLD: Those scenes were so fun.
It felt great immediately, and I certainly credit that to Aldis.
I dont think theres anybody else in the world who should be playing Cross in this series.
He just embodies the character so fully and confidently and naturally.
He makes it feel effortless and easy.
The writing in those scenes was great.
It was fun to play.
And then, we got to throw chairs and bang our heads into the glass.
In that moment, do you think that he respects Cross, admires Cross, or hates him?
EGGOLD: Thats a great question.
I think Ramsey fancies himself the same.
It just turns out that Cross is actually the one whos the brilliant detective.
Did you immediately want to know if youd return for Season 2?
EGGOLD: Obviously, thats definitely a question for Ben and what they want to do.
The response to Ed has been really fun.
As you said, theres a really fun dynamic between the two of them.
When I finishedNew Amsterdam, I was looking for a shorter commitment, in the moment.
But this group of people is so fantastic and the show was so well-received.
Im so happy for Ben and for Aldis and for everybody.
Theyre really good guys, and I love seeing when good, nice people make something good.
Its certainly a character that doesnt feel finished.
Hes got enough to him that it feels like there are interesting things there to continue exploring.
Thats always an interesting question.
The world that Aldis has created and that Cross inhabits is ultimately very warm.
Theres ultimately a lot of love at the center of the show, which is what makes it work.
So, putting Ramsey in there, who is quite loveless, is interesting.
You almost feel bad for the guy, like you would with any broken soul.
And yet, theres probably no amount of therapy that would actually help him.
EGGOLD: Probably not.
But it’s worth a shot.
Ben Watkins deep dives into Season 2 details and discusses the two Season 1 endings.
Was there a most difficult and challenging scene to shoot, and was it something that surprised you?
EGGOLD: In a silly way, doing all the teeth stuff with Eloise was hard.
I got the heebie jeebies about it.
I had to turn off all my natural instincts and embrace his gusto and joie de vivre with it.
I wanted to make a run at figure out that guy.
EGGOLD: Yes, 100%.
So, I would love to find something like that in the future.
Crossis available to stream on Prime Video.
Check out the trailer:
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