8 Biggest Differences Between Prime Video’s Cross Show & Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross Movies

prime video’s cross is the latest film adaptation of the hit thriller novel, but how different is the series from Morgan Freeman’s original film? prime cross Cast Aldis Hodge as the title character, seemingly destined to track down an endlessly creative serial killer. James Patterson’s book was also adapted into a film in 2012. alex cross (starring Tyler Perry), Morgan Freeman’s films are by far the most famous film adaptations.

Freeman fronted both. kiss the girls and the spider camean adaptation of Patterson’s first two novels. Ann alex cross Franchising felt like a natural move for Freeman Mr. SE7EN Successful but unwelcome the spider came I saw him walk away from the character. It’s been more than 20 years since Freeman last played the character. of cross The TV series is a complete reinvention of the series for a new audience.

8 Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross movie is actually based on the original story

Prime’s Cross combines book characters with original stories

The most notable difference between Freeman’s version and Hodge’s version of Alex Cross is that the film is a complete adaptation of the original story. in tv line interview, cross Showrunner Ben Watkins explained that when trying to decide which books to adapt into animation, they decided it would be more interesting to take the characters and put them into new stories instead. It’s an odd strategy considering the novel is a bestseller and there are over 30 to choose from, but the show was a success nonetheless.

every alex cross movies and tv shows	Release year	Rotten Tomatoes score
kiss the girls	1997	34%
the spider came	2001	32%
alex cross	2012	11%
cross	2024	76%

meanwhile kiss the girls and the spider came Quoted directly from each novelthey took some liberties. kiss the girls Although the violence and darkness of the original was significantly toned down, the sequel was criticized for its many deviations from Patterson’s work. This includes killing serial killer Gary Sonej (Michael Wincott), who was a recurring antagonist in the novel and a much more complex villain than portrayed in the film. .

7 Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross is much older

Freeman was about 60 when she starred in Kiss the Girls.

in crossHodge is depicted as a family man in his mid-to-late 30s, consistent with the character introduced in the original novel. the spider came (1993). kiss the girls Cross needed to add more years to match Morgan Freeman’s own age (approximately 60 years old) When a thriller movie was shot. Freeman’s Cross is involved in chases and occasional gunfights, but is more intelligent than physical.

…Morgan Freeman’s Cross was so burnt out from work on Here Comes the Spiders that he was effectively retired by the time of its release.

In fact, Cross is very burnt out at work. the spider came By the time the sequel begins, he has essentially retired, and then becomes involved in another incident. Hodge’s Cross is a fusion of both intelligences and bravadocan quickly read suspects and analyze clues, but is also willing to kick down doors and point guns at them. In short, he’s far from retired. cross Season 2 should prove that.

6 Cross’ family won’t appear in Morgan Freeman’s movie

Crossrides are performed solo in most of Morgan Freeman’s movies.

in patterson alex cross In the novel, the main character’s family plays an important role. cross Following this template, grandmother Nana Mama (Juanita Jennings) plays a major supporting role, while piano prodigy son Damon (Caleb Elijah) and daughter Janelle (Melody Heard) are given their own subplots. Morgan Freeman’s diptych takes the opposite approach. kiss the girls He tries to save his kidnapped niece, but his family barely appears In either movie.

Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in Amazon's Cross

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kiss the girls There’s a scene where Alex comforts Naomi’s mother after she hears about Naomi’s kidnapping, and other family members like Nana Cross (Helen Martin) and Janelle (Tatiana Ali) appear, but that’s about it. There is no mention of Freeman’s Cross being married, and his son Damon does not appear to exist. In the world of movies. Instead, Freeman’s films tend to pair Cross with a female partner (Ashley Judd). kiss the girls and Monica Potter the spider came ) On the other hand, his private life makes him a loner.

5 Prime Video’s ‘The Cross’ is more violent than the movie

Morgan Freeman Alex Cross movies are pretty tame by modern standards

Seven Seven It changed the game for serial killer movies, both visually and graphically. In the few years since something like this came out, criminal mind and hannibal Freeman’s films have only increased the violence, but Freeman’s films have been toned down in this area. Both films refrain from overt gore or graphic violence.however, there are some brutal moments between them. Instead, fear is often implied and understated. prime video’s cross However, it is more in line with modern tastes.

…Cross is much more intense than previous Morgan Freeman films.

From the second episode featuring a woman being brutally beaten to Fanboy Killer/Ed Ramsey chipping teeth out of his victim’s mouth, this drama has no problem ramping up the blood. That’s not to say it’s over the top – after all, it’ll be hard to beat it hannibal In the gore department, though, it’s much more intense than the Freeman series thus far.

4 Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross lacks ‘detective vision’

Aldis Hodge’s version occasionally falls into “cross mode”

large style selection cross It involves Hodge’s character entering a “detective vision” at least once per episode. This causes him to think about specific pieces of evidence and phrases and try to unravel the next big clue in the case. “Detective visions” occur so often that his colleagues also joke about them.Cross zoned out while switching information in his head during a briefing. This feels a bit like Hugh Dancy’s Will Graham. hannibalbut cross It doesn’t portray it as a borderline superpower.

Freeman Alex Cross also lacks all of Hodge’s abilities. There are many scenes where he silently scans photos and evidence, but the audience is not invited into his thought process in the same way. That’s not to say his brain it’s not It handles cues in a similar way, but done more subtly, in keeping with the more grounded feel of Freeman’s double bill.

3 Cross’s partner John Sampson has been relegated to a supporting role.

Isaiah Mustafa’s Sampson adds some (old) spice to the cross

Detective John Sampson is also a major character in the book, and he and Alex share a brotherly bond as they were basically raised together. This character appears in most of the novel, so it made sense for him to play an important role cross Too. Isaiah Mustafa plays Sampson and often steals scenes And while he and Cross remain friends, he gives Alex some tough love whenever he needs it. out of three alex cross Movies – including the much-maligned 2012 reboot – Sampson has only previously appeared in kiss the girls.

Sampson, played by Bill Nunn, doesn’t get much screen time.
kiss the girls
And if the stakeout fails, it disappears from the story.

The late, great Bill Nunn (do the right thing) played Sampson in the 1997 thrillerThe person who first told Cross about Naomi’s kidnapping. He also participates in a stakeout to help Alex, but their dynamic is downplayed in the book. Sampson doesn’t get much screen time. kiss the girlsAnd if the stakeout fails, it disappears from the story. at that time the spider came Cross had another, very short-lived partner when he arrived, but Sampson is not mentioned.

2 There was no romantic interest in Morgan Freeman’s cross

Aldis Hodge’s Alex has a much more active love life

One of the best elements of cross It’s a way to examine the protagonist’s grief over the murder of his wife Maria (Shaunti Schuler Irving). The impact of her death on him and his family, as well as his refusal to seek counseling, is a major part of his story in season one. A romance with Elle (Samantha Walks) develops as well, but their budding relationship derails several times. times. Hodge’s Cross, in contrast to the film version, has a very active love life. Too.

Freeman Alex Cross has no romantic feelings to speak of. the spider came He even scraps the budding romance between him and Secret Service Agent Jesy. From a book. His only passion in life seems to be work, as it is not even mentioned that Maria or Cross were married. Just as the movie relegates the Sampson and Cross families to the margins, they have no interest in the detective’s personal life.

1 Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross is much gentler than Aldis Hodge’s take

Alex Cross, played by Hodge, expresses smoldering anger in many scenes.

Hodge emphasized in the interview that he hasn’t seen the Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry movie yet, which is a wise move. This allows him to create a different interpretation of the character than what other performers have attempted. cross Other films are completely different, so it was best to prepare with a blank slate. The most notable difference between Freeman and Hodge is how the latter’s emotions are expressed on the surface. anytime.

Aileen Carol Wuornos, Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, Ted Bundy

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He gets angry and irritated easily, especially when criticized for his actions. Hodge’s character inherits a 180 total from Alex Cross, a rarely flailing freeman. Or even rattling. In keeping with the veteran performer’s style, his takes are often coolly detached from events, even though viewers know his true emotions run deep. It’s a gentler, movie-star take on the material, but Hodge digs deep into how frayed it is. cross He is constantly struggling to balance work, family, and grief at the same time.