Aldis Hodge is bringing another iconic character to life and has Isaiah Mustafa along for the ride inCross. Though having worked since he was a kid, Hodge found his first breakout hit witha key role in TNT’sLeverage, which he would reprise in a recurring fashion for its sequel showRedemption, and finding increasing success with everything fromStraight Outta ComptontoThe Invisible ManandOne Night in Miami…. Hodge has also been steadily building his filmography behind the camera, serving as a producer onCrossas well as co-writing and producing the sci-fi thrillerParallelwith his brother, Edwin Hodge.
Mustafa, on the other hand, has taken an interesting route in his career, beginning as a wide receiver in the NFL before turning his attention to acting in the late ’00s. He most notably became a household name thanks to being the main star of the surreal and hysterical Old Spice commercials beginning in 2010, quickly following it up with supporting roles in everything fromHorrible BossestoChuck. More recently, he has found success starring inIT: Chapter Twoas an adult Mike Hanlon, as well asShadowhuntersand the Bill Skarsgård-ledBoy Kills World.
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Hodge leads theCrosscastas the titular detective and forensic psychologist, originally created by author James Patterson, who has an uncanny ability to get into a killer’s head and find them. Mustafa stars in the show as fellow book character John Sampson, Cross' best friend since childhood and his partner on the job, with the two currently focused on hunting down a meticulous new serial killer known as the Fanboy Killer. Alongside Hodge and Mustafa, the cast for the show includes Juanita Jennings, Sharon Taylor, Melody Hurd, Ryan Eggold, Eloise Mumford, Alona Tal, Johnny Ray Gill, Jennifer Wigmore and Caleb Elijah.
Ahead of the show’s premiere,Screen Rantinterviewed Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa to discussCross, the unique investigative style of the titular detective, how his and Sampson’s childhood relationship impacts their present-day partnership, and why the Fanboy Killer is the toughest case the detective has faced yet and the parallels between the two.
Cross' Investigation Style Is About “Understanding The Killer From A Humane Perspective”
This, In Turn, Creates An Interesting Parallel Between Cross & Fanboy
Screen Rant: I love theCrossseries, it is so good. Every single episode has me wanting more, and you get those big reveals at the end of every episode that are jaw-dropping. But the first question for you, Aldis, is that Cross has this uncanny attention to detail and looks at all angles. It’s a trait that he seems to share with Fanboy. Can you talk about the similarities between the two and what they reveal about Cross' investigation style?
Aldis Hodge: His investigation style, being a forensic psychologist, is first understanding the mind of the killer, which I think he does state. Most people look at the evidence, and they start building off of there. But I think that Cross looks at the evidence as an indicative signature of the killer and their motivations. He thinks about it from a very different perspective, which is what makes it special. That’s what makes his mindset his superpower, is that he gets to live dangerously close to understanding the killer from a humane perspective.
Because if you can’t understand the human inside, then you can’t understand what drives them. For every season, what Ben Watkins, our creator, does brilliantly is that he knows he needs to create someone who is so formidable that can stand against Cross. That can, to a degree, almost beat Cross. That may be a possibility we don’t know, but therein lies a challenge for Cross to step his game up and keep pushing.
Isaiah Mustafa: Yeah. They got to find the right Joker to his Batman.
Alex & John’s Brotherhood Has A Very Emotional Root
“…I think that’s where you see that brotherhood develop…”
Isaiah, my question for you is that John Sampson is one of the few people who can recognize that Cross is about to cross the line. Can you talk about their brotherhood and how that impacts their dynamic throughout the series?
Isaiah Mustafa: I think when you look at the brotherhood between Samson and Cross, you have to go back to their childhood because they were both fighting something. They’re both dealing with loss. They came together through Nana Mama, and because they grew up together watching each other’s backs and learning how to recognize when the other person is having a hard time in life, I think that’s where you see that brotherhood develop, and it just went from there to the police academy to become detectives. Now, you have a true loving relationship between these two brothers.
Fanboy Is Cross' Toughest Case Yet For A Unique Reason
“That’s the thing I love…”
Aldis, would you say that Cross’s case involving Fanboy is the toughest to date?
Aldis Hodge: I would say generally, I think so. That’s the thing I love about it so much, because he does challenge Cross so much to a point where Cross even has to question himself. There’s a point where he questions Cross. There’s a point where he has to really sit and think, “How am I doing things? How are things moving? Am I really at the top of my game here?” That’s the thing I love about this sort of strange cat-and-mouse relationship going on, because this killer is so well-seated in the world he’s in.
He’s so well-protected that Cross has to work to find a chink in the armor, and it’s not as easy as he thought it was going to be. All the way down to where we meet them in the end, it’s, first of all, an unexpected relationship that happens between the two, but there’s an understanding between them that, whether he likes it or not, “Oh, I see you. I’m at you. I respect, okay, now the game is on.” Now he has to go from Cross to Super Cross just to tackle this.
Isaiah Mustafa: Yeah. Batman isn’t going after robbers, he’s going after The Joker.
AboutCross
Starring Aldis Hodge, Cross is a crime thriller series that follows ALEX CROSS, a decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist who faces a sadistic serial killer leaving a string of bodies strewn around the city. As Alex and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), track this killer, a mysterious threat from Cross’ past appears, aiming to destroy what he’s done to keep his grieving family, career, and life together. Ryan Eggold, Alona Tal, and Johnny Ray Gill also star; Ben Watkins serves as showrunner.
Cross
Cast
Cross follows the life of Alex Cross, a skilled yet troubled homicide detective balancing his role as a devoted father and relentless crime investigator. Haunted by his wife’s murder, he navigates personal turmoil while persistently pursuing justice in the face of dangerous adversaries.
