Alex Cross is officially staying on the case. Prime Video has announced that its hit thriller series, Cross, starring Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa, has been renewed for a highly anticipated third season.
The exciting news arrives perfectly timed for fans, dropping right on the heels of the explosive Season 2 finale. Keeping the momentum going, the newly greenlit Season 3 will once again consist of eight episodes.
While Aldis Hodge expertly leads the charge as the brilliant detective Alex Cross, the emotional heartbeat of the series relies heavily on the deep-rooted brotherhood and loyalty between Cross and his partner, Detective John Sampson, played masterfully by Isaiah Mustafa.
In a recent cover story interview with The Quintessential Gentleman, Mustafa opened up about stepping into this new era of his career and what makes his character so compelling.
“[Sampson] is just unapologetically Black,” Mustafa shared. “He says what is on his mind.” But despite his boldness, the detective is far from reckless. “He also has this moral compass,” Mustafa added, noting that the character’s grounding was partly inspired by his real-life experiences with police officers.
Securing the role in Cross was a major milestone for Mustafa, whose path to Hollywood wasn’t exactly traditional. Before the acting credits and the viral “Old Spice Guy” fame, Mustafa spent time in the NFL, an experience he credits with building his incredible resilience.
“The NFL prepared me for this moment,” he told QG. “Honestly, it prepared me how to deal with failure. When they let you go, when they release you, they tell you exactly why you didn’t make a team… Nothing beats the rejection in the NFL. That’s heartbreaking.”
That thick skin served him well in the audition room. When the opportunity for Cross landed in his inbox, Mustafa knew he wanted to be part of the James Patterson universe, but he made sure to keep his composure.
“Sometimes, when you want something too much, you can push it away from you,” he explained. Thankfully, everything clicked during his chemistry read with Hodge, where the connection between the two actors was instantly “organic”.
Now, with a third season officially locked in, it is clear that their on-screen chemistry and the show’s dark, thrilling storytelling are a winning formula. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for Detective Sampson and Alex Cross.
