Alex Cross’ James Patterson Rejected 7 Figures From Hollywood to Whitewash Titular Character

Alex Cross’ James Patterson Rejected 7 Figures From Hollywood to Whitewash Titular Character

As a seasoned gamer with a keen interest in both literature and cinema, I must say that James Patterson‘s stance on his Alex Cross character is nothing short of admirable. His unwavering commitment to diversity and representation in media is truly inspiring.


As a dedicated reader and avid gamer, I’d rephrase that into my personal perspective like this: “In the gaming world, I’m all about authentic characters that resonate. Just like author James Patterson, when Hollywood came knocking with a seven-figure offer to change the ethnicity of his protagonist Alex Cross, he courageously declined, sticking to his principles and ensuring the character remained true to the story.

Published in 1993, the first book in the Alex Cross series, titled “Along Came a Spider,” was penned by author James Patterson. This collection of novels features the main character, a Black detective named Alex Cross, as he tackles crimes and confronts threats within Washington, D.C.

The latest series from Amazon Prime Video, focusing on the character Cross, is now airing, featuring Aldis Hodge as the lead actor.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Patterson disclosed that soon after the release of Along Came a Spider, he was presented with a substantial movie deal centered around his Alex Cross novels. Yet, he declined this proposal because they intended to alter the character’s ethnicity.

What did James Patterson say about rejecting Hollywood’s Alex Cross offer?

Patterson shared an intriguing detail regarding the Hollywood Cross series. He recalled, “When I penned the initial Alex Cross novel, I was financially strapped, and suddenly, there was a knock on the door – five quick knocks. They proposed a seven-figure deal, but at that time, I had little money. They suggested one modification: they wanted Alex to be white. My response? ‘Take a hike.’ It was challenging, but I held out. Consequently, we didn’t seal the deal immediately. However, Paramount later approached us, and we produced a few films with Morgan. This exhibit includes David Ellison from Skydance, who has been involved early on, and Amazon also got involved, which was fantastic. Along the way, I encountered Ben [Watkins], which turned out to be quite fortunate, and of course, Aldis joined us later.

Morgan Freeman once starred as detective Alex Cross in two films: “Kiss the Girls” from 1997, helmed by Gary Fleder, and “Along Came a Spider” in 2001, directed by Lee Tamahori. Later on, Tyler Perry took over the role of Alex Cross in the 2012 movie named “Alex Cross,” which was led by Rob Cohen. Originally, there were plans to make a sequel to Cohen’s film, but these plans were abandoned following the underperformance of “Alex Cross” at the box office.

Cross Season 1 is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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2024-11-14 23:40