Idris Elba has signed on to play forensic psychologist Dr. Alex Cross in new film Cross , an adaptation of James Patterson's twelfth novel in the Alex Cross series.
The character has previously been portrayed on screen by Morgan Freeman in Kiss The Girls (1997) and Along Came a Spider (2001).
In the novel version, Cross has become a private investigator having left the FBI. He then becomes involved in consulting to stop a serial killer called The Butcher who may be connected to the murder of his wife.
It's been a busy few years for the Londoner. He'll be seen next in John Luessenhop's Takers and will appear as Heimdall in the Marvel comic book adaptation, Thor.
Having played a murder detective in Luther, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch for him to play a forensic psychologist in Cross. However. Morgan Freeman leaves some pretty big shoes to fill.
Cross is set to be directed by David Twohy ( Pitch Black) and written by Kerry Williamson, with no release date announced as yet.
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