Amazon Prime fans will be 'seduced' by Cross killer as star shares character inspiration

The creative forces behind 's latest thriller, Cross, have divulged that they took a leaf from the book of iconic villains to shape the show's most formidable antagonist.

Not just another detective saga, Cross intertwines brand new story arcs within the established universe created by novelist James Patterson.

Ben Watkins, at the helm as the showrunner, alongside actor Aldis Hodge, who steps into the shoes of the sharp-witted forensic psychologist Alex Cross, has opened up about their edgy narrative approach in crafting what is touted as Cross's toughest challenge yet.

Their blueprint? Drawing parallels to some of pop culture's most infamous baddies, a strategy aimed at enriching the taut cat-and-mouse dynamic at the series' core.

In the series, Alex Cross encounters a wily adversary in 'Fanboy', a dangerous killer with the brains to match.

Hodge unpacked his character's psyche and the importance of a worthy nemesis in a chat with Screen Rant, explaining: "So, for every season, really, 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."

Echoing Hodge's insights, Isaiah Mustafa (who portrays Cross's crime-fighting partner John Sampson) shed further light on the meticulous villain selection process, adding: "They got to find the right Joker to his Batman. Batman isn't going after robbers, he's going after The Joker."

Their comments suggest that Cross is a series that will push boundaries, offering viewers a psychological deep dive wrapped in suspense.

Writer and creator Watkins also opened up about the casting of the killer, underscoring the importance it held in shaping audience reactions. Ryan Eggold has been chosen for the sinister role, leveraging his amiable reputation from shows like 90210 and New Amsterdam.

Watkins believes that Eggold's previous roles will lull viewers into a 'false' sense of security.

Watkins expressed his satisfaction with the casting decision, saying: "I'm so glad we got Ryan Eggold to play the role, I wanted to sort of depart away from what I feel like people have been doing with serial killers recently, which is making them all sort of fit the Hannibal Lecter mould."

He further elaborated on the need for a particular allure and physicality within the character portrayal, adding: "I wanted somebody that was charismatic and seductive and also had a physicality, so we wanted to look for someone who could pull that off.

"And Ryan Eggold had that, and he had one thing else, he was coming off of a show where people liked him, loved him on New Amsterdam."

Watkins said he aims to exploit Eggold's likeable image from his past performances, explaining: "So I was like, 'If any fans from New Amsterdam come in there, there's going to be a sense of liking him.'

"Even subconsciously, even if you know he's the bad guy, there's still a residual effect of you saw him before, and you liked him, and I needed that, because I want people every now and then across the course of the whole season to be reminded of how a killer could seduce you."

Cross is streaming on Amazon Prime now.