James Patterson, the author of the Alex Cross novels, has come to Tyler Perry’s defense regarding his portrayal of the titular character in the 2012 film “Alex Cross”. The movie, adapted from the 2006 novel “Cross”, was panned by critics, earning just 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. This led to the cancellation of a planned sequel and the franchise moving to a TV show adaptation.
Patterson pointed out that the movie’s format didn’t allow for full exploration of important characters’ backstories from the books, like Samson who was absent from the 2012 film. He squarely blames director Rob Cohen, stating Cohen would rewrite the script nightly, leaving Perry with what was essentially a first draft. Patterson, however, praised Perry and also Aldis Hodge, who plays Alex Cross in the TV show.
Patterson believes the 2012 “Alex Cross” had potential. Some critics did enjoy Perry’s performance despite disliking Cohen’s direction, which also contributed to its poor box office showing, making only $34.6 million against a $35 million budget. The new TV show “Cross” on Prime Video is the best-reviewed adaptation so far, suggesting it’s on the right track.
The positive reception of the new TV show shows there are ways to make the Alex Cross series appealing. While the Morgan Freeman-led adaptations had commercial success, they weren’t as well-liked by critics as the new TV series. Patterson’s faith in Perry and the praise Perry still got from critics indicate his role could have worked better with different direction.
Perry has shown himself to be a talented actor in films like “Gone Girl”, capable of handling serious roles with the right material. Patterson’s defense reflects the potential he saw in Perry for “Alex Cross”. Though he won’t reprise the role in the TV show, he could land similar roles in the future if he wishes.
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