So, what makes this particular show different from the book-to-screen adaptations we’ve seen before?
According to Watkins,Crossmakes sure viewers get the “whole scope of that world.”
The showalso starsJuanita Jennings,Siobhan Murphy, andRyan Eggold.
Image via Prime Video
you could watch the full conversation in the video player above or read the interview transcript below.
What Makes Prime Video’s ‘Cross’ Series Different?
BEN WATKINS: That’s a great question.
So, we did that.
The new series adapting James Patterson’s Alex Cross premieres next month on Prime Video.
Aldis, I know you had some conversations with James Patterson.
Image via Prime Video
I’m sure he gave you many great tips, pointers, thoughts, you name it.
He told me a lot of cool facts.
The idea of Cross was based off of people who were in his life growing up.
Image via Prime Video
People have an idea of who he is from the books.
They’ve been with him for years.
They grew up with him.
Image via Prime Video
I think we did that.
Ifeellike we did that.
HODGE: My guy!
Image via Prime Video
ISAIAH MUSTAFA: [Laughs] My guy!
HODGE: You are the tea to my cup!
MUSTAFA: [Laughs] You fill me up!
Image via Prime Video
I think it was our first scene that we shot in D.C. outside when we were walking up.
We had to keep pace.
We walked from our stopping point to where we were gonna start.
TV series based on James Paterson’s Alex Cross novels. Alex Cross uses forensic psychology to analyze killers' minds, delving into victims' psyches to identify murderers and bring them to justice
They timed it out when we had the conversation.
During that moment, it was such an easy flow of our conversation that I’m like, Wow.
We haven’t ever had this conversation before, and it’s just flowing so easy."
If you want to try anything else, you guys can have more fun with it if you want.
We just rolled on into it.
From that point, I thought, Wow, we have pretty good chemistry.
MUSTAFA: That’s actually where I had a conversation with [Watkins].
That was actually Sampson’s throughline, and that’s what I used as his throughline.
I don’t want to give it away, though.
Its the dinner scene where it’s very clear that they have a difference of opinions on certain matters.
SAMANTHA WALKES: We do this in our regular life, too.
In my belief system, it’s all of the complexities of that person.
I can’t just pick and choose what I want to love and what I wanna throw away.
She has her flaws.
ALONA TAL: She’s perfect.
There are no flaws.
WALKES: I pay her to say it.
How deep does that jealousy run?
TAL: I wouldn’t call it jealousy.
Let’s compare it to athletes.
My football-obsessed brain just processed that as the defense never gets as much credit as the offense!
TAL: Sure, lets go with that!
Ryan, Im wildly fascinated by Ed.
RYAN EGGOLD: Well, I don’t know that it will.
He’s really not concerned with humanity or people.
Hes really concerned with power and himself, and his own ambition.
I loved being that counterpoint to that.
You didn’t even scratch the surface of your character.
EGGOLD: No, not yet!
[Laughs]
The dude makes me nervous!
What did that news mean to you when you got it?
WATKINS: I was stunned.
You just don’t see that very often.
I think the first thing was just complete shock and excitement.
They were willing to make that pop in of investment.The real gratitude was for the people whomadethe show.
You gotta talk about all of our directors who helped elevate everything.
You gotta talk about our crew.
The crew showed up and acted like this was their show from day one.
Its hard to find that.
Here, people showed up inspired every day and lifted us.
I think that’s actually what came through on screen.
And now we get a Season 2 because of that.
Crosspremieres on Prime Video on November 14.
