‘Cross’ Star Aldis Hodge Starred in the Jack Reacher Franchise Before Alan Ritchson

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While a handful of crime dramas currently compete with Reacher on television, few have achieved the same level of critical success and staying power. One strong contender is Cross, starring Aldis Hodge as a detective and forensic psychologist. This action-packed thriller, based on James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels, has also proven popular with Prime Video viewers.

The show has been a critical success, earning high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes – 76% for the first season and an impressive 95% for the second. A third season is currently being filmed and promises to be even more ambitious. Many viewers may not know that Aldis Hodge actually played Jack Reacher before Alan Ritchson – how did that casting switch happen?

Aldis Hodge Starred in ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back’

Before the popular Reacher series on Amazon Prime Video, Paramount made two movies based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, starring Tom Cruise. The first movie was adapted from the novel One Shot, and the second, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, followed the plot of a similar book. Both films received negative reviews, and many devoted fans disliked the casting of Tom Cruise, feeling he didn’t match the tall, imposing character as described in the novels.

Tom Cruise delivered a strong performance, as did Aldis Hodge, who played a law enforcement officer in this film. Hodge appears in a supporting role as Captain Anthony Espin, a by-the-book investigator with the Army’s Military Police. Espin’s character follows the classic ‘enemies to allies’ storyline, as he’s assigned to track down Jack Reacher after Reacher helps Major Susan Turner escape while she’s accused of spying.

Even though the movie isn’t great overall, Hodge’s performance is a standout and makes it worth watching. It’s compelling to see his character evolve from a strict rule-follower to someone who prioritizes the truth. The film does involve a conspiracy, and once Espin figures out that Reacher and Turner are being set up, he becomes a valuable and intelligent ally. His character also highlights the important idea of honesty and accountability within organizations.

Aldis Hodge and Alan Ritchson Have “Crossed” Paths a Few Other Times… Kinda

Aldis Hodge and Alan Ritchson have actually worked for the same productions more than once, even though they’ve never shared a scene together. Both actors appeared in different episodes of the popular Netflix series, Black Mirror. Alan Ritchson was in Season 3’s “Nosedive,” and Aldis Hodge starred in Season 4’s “Black Museum.” Interestingly, neither role involved the action-packed performances fans might expect from them.

Aldis Hodge and Alan Ritchson have both appeared in DC projects. Ritchson first gained recognition playing a young Aquaman in Smallville, and later had a significant role as Hawk in Titans. Hodge played a key role opposite Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, attempting to shake up the established order of the DC Universe. He’s also lent his voice to the character of Green Lantern (John Stewart) in various animated series and films.

Although Alan Ritchson is older, Lee Hodge has a longer career in Hollywood, beginning in the 1990s and appearing in many well-known shows and movies like Die Hard, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, CSI, ER, Bones, Supernatural, The Walking Dead, The Blacklist, and Star Trek. The question is, can Hodge help Cross surpass Reacher and become Prime Video’s biggest hit? It’ll be a challenge, as Ritchson is currently more popular and attracts a larger audience. However, success isn’t out of the question.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend checking out Cross. It’s a great show, and just like Reacher, it has plenty of source material to work with – there are 34 Alex Cross novels, plus a couple more. This gives Prime Video the potential to continue the series for many seasons, similar to the long run of The Simpsons. Let’s hope they decide to do that!

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2026-04-05 17:03