Prime Video's Cross won't adapt any of the James Patterson novels, here's why!

Prime Video's adaptation of Cross is coming in November. The series, based on the books by James Patterson, is a highly anticipated release for fans of crime thrillers. Our hero is Alex Cross, a D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist who has a particular skill in picking apart what makes serial killers tick.

When we meet Cross, his family is in the midst of grief after the loss of his beloved wife. But, as is typical with his field of work, there isn't much time to be present as they figure out how to live without her. A sadistic killer is on the loose and it's up to Cross and his partner, John Sampson, to track the culprit and bring them to justice. There, however, is another threat. One from his past that's ready to destroy everything Cross has managed to do to keep his life, his career, and his family together.

Since this is an adaptation, it would be expected that the team behind the show would be drawing from the source material, if not from a specific Patterson book to construct the story, but that wasn't the case. Book fans, you're in for an entirely new story to enjoy. Showrunner and creator Ben Watkins explained why in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:

"I said I was not going to do any of the seasons based on the books. I thought it was really important that we give fans a new offering, that we honor the characters and the world so that they would feel like they were getting what they signed up for, but also then give them a new story. They'll get what those books feel like."

- Ben Watkins

Watkins' choice is one fully supported by Patterson who isn't an author that wants the adaptations of his books to be beholden to the material that he's written. He'd rather the new entry into the franchise be it's own thing and said as much:

"It’s something I say when anybody is developing one of my books or characters: I much prefer the story be brand new. I was hoping the show would be a breakthrough and not dependent on the book, and it’s happened."

- James Patterson

Watkins concern was opening this world up and pulling in elements from the books that the movies didn't have or didn't do "justice" as he put it. From reading the series, he knew that there were staples the show needed to have--Washington D.C. as a backdrop, Cross' struggle over the murder of his wife, including the villain's point of view, and his best friend and partner John Sampson.

Movie fans likely don't know about Sampson, but he's an important person in Cross' life, often his support and the person that he leans on. According to Watkins, "This relationship is so layered and so rewarding and so nuanced and comforting.’ They're inseparable and you know you can count on that."

Getting the casting of Sampson right was so imperative that Cross' lead, Aldis Hodge, had a hand in picking who would step into the detective's shoes. Isaiah Mustafa got the part and we're in for a touching and deep showcase of their friendship.

"I always understood that John Sampson was this partner, this brother, someone to lean. They do have a brotherhood that is unparalleled to anything you've ever seen on television between two African American characters, so we wanted to really dig into that and make sure that that brotherhood is what fans recognize and what they pull from the show."

- Isaiah Mustafa

Cross promises to be a captivating thriller that also examines and explores our lead's interior life, who he is as a detective, father, widower, friend, and man. All eight episodes of the first season release Thursday, Nov. 14 on Prime Video. Season 2 has already been ordered by the streamer.

Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for more coverage of the series and more Law Enforcement Dramas.