Amazon Prime Cross star Aldis Hodge's life off screen and famous brother

Fans eagerly awaiting a new adaptation of Alex Cross can finally rejoice as the new Amazon Prime original series, Cross, is set to premiere on the streaming platform on November 14, featuring Aldis Hodge in the lead role.

The series does not follow any of the original novels penned by renowned author James Patterson. Instead, it narrates a fresh tale using familiar characters and settings within the established universe.

Hodge steps into the shoes of the main character, a role previously portrayed by Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry.

Cross is a crime thriller that trails the life of decorated D. C. detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross (Hodge), who is pitted against a sadistic serial killer leaving a trail of bodies across the city.

But who exactly is Aldis Hodge? What roles has he played before, what are his family ties in the industry and where might you have seen him before? Here's everything you need to know.

Who is Aldis Hodge?

Aldis Alexander Basil Hodge, born on September 20, 1986 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, hails from a military family. Both his parents served in the U.S. Marine Corps, but Hodge made his big screen debut at the tender age of 11, reports .

He portrayed Raymond in Die Hard With A Vengeance, released in 1995, playing the nephew of Samuel L. Jackson's character.

While his acting career flourished, he also managed to carve out time to attend the Art Center College of Design in California.

Hodge is not only an actor but also a painter, with his artwork featured in exhibitions in Los Angeles. He even designs his own luxury watch line, A. Hodge Atelier. Additionally, he plays the violin, a skill he showcased in an episode of the series Leverage.

Where might you recognise Aldis Hodge from

Alex Cross isn't the first significant role that Hodge has taken on; he's portrayed several real-life figures on screen.

He played MC Ren in the biopic Straight Outta Compton, civil rights activist Levi Jackson in Hidden Figures, and former NFL star Jim Brown in One Night in Miami.

In 2013, Hodge returned to the Die Hard franchise, playing Lieutenant Foxy in A Good Day to Die Hard. He's suggested that his character from the third film grew up to become Foxy.

No stranger to heroic roles, Hodge has voiced DC comic book character Green Lantern in two animated films, Beware My Power and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

He also stepped into the live-action DC universe, starring alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in Black Adam.

In the film, Hodge took on the role of Carter Hall, also known as Hawkman.

Does Aldis Hodge have a brother?

Aldis Hodge's brother, Edwin Hodge, is a successful actor himself, making his film debut alongside his brother in Die Hard with a Vengeance.

Edwin, just a year older than Aldis, has an impressive list of credits to his name. He holds the unique distinction of being the only actor to feature in the first three films of The Purge franchise and has also starred in Bumblebee and The Tomorrow War.

Since 2022, Edwin has been a key cast member in FBI: Most Wanted.

The brothers collaborated on the 2024 film Parallel, a remake of the 2019 Chinese film, Parallel Forest.

Cross is streaming on Amazon Prime