By
Angel Shaw
Published 1 hour ago
Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Peer Mentor on ScreenRant's New TV team, covering new-release TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy.
Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones).
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Cross season 2 is on the way, and it's a step closer to beating out another adaptation of James Patterson's work. The famed author has had several of his novels adapted for the screen, each to varying degrees of success. Most recently, we got 2024's Cross, a TV show based on Patterson's Alex Cross book series. The Prime Video show is off to a great start, already claiming a 76% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes after its first installment.
This critical reception is better than every other film or TV adaptation of Patterson's works—aside from one. Zoo, which premiered in 2015 and ran for three seasons, holds an impressive 82% Rotten Tomatoes score. Cross has a ways to go, but its casting for the upcoming sophomore season could give it an edge.
Cross Season 2's Cast Gives It A Leg Up On James Patterson's Zoo
Matthew Lillard as William Afton on the phone in Five Nights at Freddy's.Image by Everett Collection
The titular character of Cross is played by Aldis Hodge, who has already done a fantastic job on the series. We've also had great performances from Isaiah Mustafa, Alona Tal, Juanita Jennings, and several others. Now, going into Cross season 2, Prime Video has added Matthew Lillard to the cast list.
Lillard will play a billionaire named Lance Durand in Cross season 2.
Lillard's fanbase now spans generations. He rose to prominence with the original Scream movie in 1996, and the franchise's timelessness means there's no end in sight for Lillard's familiarity. The same is true for other cult classics like She's All That, Thirteen Ghosts, and, of course, the Scooby-Doo franchise. Suffice it to say, if Lillard is part of Cross season 2, people will tune in to watch.
Of course, a popular actor isn't enough to guarantee good ratings from critics. However, what's so promising about Lillard's casting in Cross is that it appears he was genuinely brought on because of his talent in the role, not simply his name. Cross showrunner Ben Watkins stated he asked that Lillard audition for his role, noting that this was the first time Lillard had been required to read for a part in 15 years.
Cross Is Already Close To Beating Zoo's Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Aldis Hodge's Alex looking in thought in Cross season 2
It's evident that Cross is approaching its second season very carefully. Lillard is a great name to have associated with the Prime Video project, and his reading for the role suggests he was cast based on ability. This could get Cross over the sophomore slump, potentially closing that gap with Zoo.
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Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper context and clear analysis of casting moves, ratings battles, and adaptation comparisons - the kind of coverage that explains what a high-profile addition really means for a show's standing among fellow James Patterson adaptations. SubscribeNewsletter: Smart takes on TV adaptations and casting
Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper context and clear analysis of casting moves, ratings battles, and adaptation comparisons - the kind of coverage that explains what a high-profile addition really means for a show's standing among fellow James Patterson adaptations. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Though Cross' critic score has a ways to go before it can surpass Zoo's 82%, audience scores are already even. For both series, 64% of general audiences gave positive reviews. Lillard's appearance is more likely to sway viewers' opinions than critics'. So, at least in this regard, Cross is awfully close to becoming the top-rated James Patterson adaptation of all time.
Cross (2024) Official Poster
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Cross
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Crime Mystery Release Date November 14, 2024 Directors Craig Siebels, Nzingha Stewart Writers Ben Watkins Franchise(s) Alex CrossCast
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Aldis Hodge
Alex Cross
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Isaiah Mustafa
John Sampson
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Zoo
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