What to do with the character of Alex Cross has been a hard case for Hollywood to crack. Bestselling author James Patterson introduced the ace detective to the world in 1993 with “Along Came a Spider,” launching a rich world centered around the hero psychologist and investigator now comprising more than 30 books. That series has collectively sold more than 100 million copies, which is presumably why Hollywood keeps trying to get it right.
Alex Cross first showed up on the big screen back in 1997, with Morgan Freeman in “Kiss the Girls,” followed by “Along Came a Spider,” named for the very first novel, with Freeman again, in 2001.