Saturday, February 12, 2011

The New Alex Cross is Tyler Perry!

Photo taken from Variety
Photo taken from Deadline
Morgan Freeman, give way to Tyler Perry - the new Alex Cross.

Perry would be playing Cross for the movie adaptation of I, Alex Cross, part of the Alex Cross series originally played by Freeman in Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls.

August of last year, it was announced that Idris Elba would be playing the role of the detective cum psychologist in the movie version of
Cross, the twelfth book in the series, with David Twohy directing. Now, Rob Cohen is set to direct the movie for the 16th book I, Alex Cross for QED International, with James Patterson and Kerry Williamson to write the first draft of the script. Patterson would also be an executive producer, along with Steve Bowen. Filming would begin in June.

According to Patterson, "Plain and simple, Tyler Perry is a movie star! He has talent and likability, and he said to me, 'I wouldn't take on the role of Alex Cross if I didn't think I could do a great job.'"

"Tyler Perry's biggest successes came when he played the female alter ego, the stereotypical matriarch Madea. He last directed For Colored Girls, an adaptation of the iconic 1975 play by Ntozake Shange. His movies usually have a strong female following, and the Cross mysteries are action mystery which appeals to a male viewing audience. It is a radical departure for Perry, who usually stars in the films he writes and directs (Star Trek was an exception). Lionsgate recently acquired Take My Wife, a comedy that will star Perry and Dwayne Johnson. Cohen is an interesting choice as director, and has a franchise track record: he launched both the XxX and The Fast and the Furious franchises. I'm told that the plan is for Perry to star in a trilogy. QED partners Bill Block and Paul Hanson will produce. WME reps both Perry and Cohen. " (Deadline New York)

So what do you think of this latest development on the new Alex Cross movie?









Sources:


Bierly, Mandi. “Tyler Perry in, Idris Elba out of Alex Cross reboot: Producer explains why – EXCLUSIVE”. PopWatch. February 1, 2011. February 12, 2011 http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/01/tyler-perry-alex-cross-idris-elba/

Fleming, Mike. “Tyler Perry As Alex Cross In James Patterson Franchise Reboot”. Deadline New York. January 31, 2011. February 12, 2011 http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/tyler-perry-as-alex-cross

Kroll, Justin. “Tyler Perry to play Alex Cross in reboot”. Variety. January 31, 2011. February 12, 2011. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118031257

5 comments:

  1. When I read these books, I will always picture Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross. I can't see anyone else, even thought I'm sure Alex Cross hasn't aged as much as Morgan Freeman ;) Thanks for the update, I hadn't heard this yet. I'm posting a review of "Cross Fire" tomorrow on my blog.

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  2. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! I'm only on Cat & Mouse right now but Idris Elba would've been the eye candy I needed to watch this. I hate the idea that Tyler Perry is doing it! UGH! Idris Elba is sexual chocolate!

    I don't think that Tyler Perry will do well on a serious note because, like your article says, he normally stars in things he writes for himself. Who knows how he will do when someone else is writing! Ugh. Well thanks for this post, I had no idea!!

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  3. I truly loved it when they cast Idris Elba because I thought he was everything Alex Cross was: intelligent, sensitive, analytical, and very badass. Tyler Perry does not quite cut it because his face alone lacks the seriousness that is the cornerstone of Cross's personality. But maybe he might just wow us.

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  4. Totally agree! But you know maybe he *will* wow us. I'm just biased bc I think Idris way cuter.

    And hahahah at Perry playing Nana!!!

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  5. Lah: Yeah that would be so funny!

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I just have to tell you, ARGH feeds on awesomeness, so if you can, drop him some awesome here, and I promise to give some awesome back :D

Right now, because of my really busy schedule, I'm cutting back on receiving awards. So until further notice, me and ARGH would not be accepting awards. But thank you for thinking of us, we really appreciate it!