The second season of Cross is now streaming on Prime Video, and star Aldis Hodge is opening up about the deeper meaning behind playing heroes. While most fans know him as the winged warrior Hawkman from the 2022 DC film Black Adam, Hodge sees a direct line between that comic book character and his current role as Detective Alex Cross.
Both characters operate in completely different worlds. One flies through the sky with ancient Nth metal wings. The other walks the streets of Washington, D.C. carrying a badge. But for Hodge, the mission is exactly the same.
Heroes Are Defined By Purpose, Not Powers
In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Hodge explained why he refuses to separate his DC superhero role from his crime thriller character. He grew up reading comics and watching anime, and that background shaped how he views heroism entirely .
“I grew up on graphic novels and comics. I love anime. I’m addicted to anime. Superheroes and comics were invented as symbolism for dealing with oppression in ways you couldn’t directly. You made yourself super. You created ideology around opposing what suppresses you,” Hodge said.
He believes that Alex Cross carries that same weight. The detective does not have super strength or flight capabilities. But he faces down serial killers, corrupt systems, and personal trauma every single day. That battle against oppression is what makes him a superhero without a cape .
Hodge emphasized that his approach to building a character never changes based on the genre. Whether he is putting on Hawkman’s armor or a detective’s suit, he starts with the same questions.
“Where I start with every character is their honesty. What do they want? Who are they? Where are they at? What are they going through? What are their desires? Their fears? Their vulnerabilities? Their strengths? That never changes. Every character’s journey is different, but I need to understand that honesty in order to portray them,” he explained .
The Comic Book Connection Runs Deep
This is not the first time Hodge has spoken about his love for the source material. During the press tour for Black Adam in 2022, he told t2online that he was already a massive comic book fan long before landing the role of Carter Hall .
“I am a big comic book guy, especially the JSA. I knew of Black Adam’s antagonism with Hawkman and his conflict with the JSA. When I got the film, I did more of a deep-dive into Hawkman, his origins and his ideas… and it was pretty awesome,” Hodge said at the time .
He also revealed that playing Hawkman came with serious physical demands. Hodge trained for months, spending 12 to 14 hours a day lifting weights. The hardest part was not the exercise but the strict diet. He joked about begging for a bagel and only receiving six pistachios from his nutritionist. Still, he called the experience the best time he ever had on a film set .
That dedication to authenticity carried over into Cross. The series demands emotional weight rather than physical transformation, but Hodge treats both roles with the same seriousness.
What Is Cross Season 2 About?
The second season of Cross picks up with Alex Cross hunting a new kind of predator. This time, he is tracking a ruthless vigilante who is targeting corrupt billionaire businessmen. The season explores whether violence can be justified if it is used against evil people .
Jeanine Mason joins the cast as Luz, a woman also known as Rebecca who operates as a vigilante killer. Her character is not a traditional monster. She is punishing powerful men who exploit child labor and traffic human beings. The show forces the audience to question whether they actually want Cross to catch her .
Matthew Lillard also joins the series as Lance Durand, a billionaire CEO whose company is at the center of the investigation. Wes Chatham plays Donnie, a military-trained operative assisting Luz’s mission .
The returning cast includes Isaiah Mustafa as Detective John Sampson, Alona Tal as FBI Special Agent Kayla Craig, Samantha Walkes as Elle Monteiro, Juanita Jennings as Nana Mama, Caleb Elijah as Damon Cross, Melody Hurd as Janelle Cross, and Johnny Ray Gill as Bobby Trey .
Ryan Eggold, who played the main villain Ed Ramsey in season one, does not return as a regular cast member for the new episodes .
Trust Is Broken And No One Is Safe
Hodge has been very direct about what viewers should expect from season two. In interviews with Mid-day and Moneycontrol, he warned that loyalty is a dangerous thing this year .
“I’ll say the thing I love about the show is that nobody’s ever safe. Whether that means emotionally, personally, whether we’re dealing with mortality, you know so don’t get comfortable. There are so many dynamic changes that shift that you will not expect,” Hodge said .
He revealed that the relationship between Cross and Sampson faces serious strain. The idea of duty gets complicated when the system protects bad people. Hodge also pointed out that many characters look clean on the surface but are hiding dark secrets underneath .
“That’s why I said, don’t get comfortable, because you’ll never know who to trust this season,” he added .
Streaming Details And Release Schedule
Cross season 2 premiered on February 11, 2026 on Prime Video. The first three episodes dropped on the same day. The remaining five episodes will release weekly every Wednesday .
Full episode release schedule:
- Episodes 1, 2, 3: February 11, 2026
- Episode 4: February 18, 2026
- Episode 5: February 25, 2026
- Episode 6: March 4, 2026
- Episode 7: March 11, 2026
- Episode 8: March 18, 2026
Each episode runs between 50 to 60 minutes. The series is available for streaming in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and globally on the platform .
Prime Video confirmed the weekly rollout strategy to keep audiences engaged through the March finale. The show is produced by Paramount Television Studios, Skydance Television, and Amazon MGM Studios. Ben Watkins serves as the creator and showrunner .
Critical Reception And Performance
The first season of Cross was a massive hit for Prime Video. Matthew Lillard revealed in an interview that the show accumulated 40 million views in the first 20 days of its release in 2024 .
Early reviews for season two praise the show for taking risks. Critics have highlighted Jeanine Mason’s performance as Luz, calling her a sympathetic antagonist who makes the audience uncomfortable. The decision to explore themes like child labor exploitation, corrupt philanthropy, and immigrant stories has been described as timely and bold .
Isaiah Mustafa has also received attention for bringing deeper emotional layers to Detective Sampson. His character deals with a family member from his past who resurfaces under criminal circumstances .
Why This Comparison Matters
Hodge drawing a line between Hawkman and Alex Cross is not just a casual comment. It reflects how he chooses roles and how he defines heroism. He does not believe that superheroes require superpowers. He believes that standing up against oppression, protecting people who cannot protect themselves, and refusing to look away from evil are what make a hero .
That message resonates differently in 2026. The second season of Cross deals with billionaires who hide behind charity while exploiting workers. It deals with vigilantes born from real trauma. It deals with a detective who is exhausted but refuses to stop.
Hodge told Infobae that the show tries to be a mirror for conversations people are already having. He said the goal is never to be sensational or voyeuristic. Instead, the creative team aims to show the humanity of people who suffer oppression while also helping viewers understand complicated issues more clearly .
That is the same philosophy he brought to Black Adam. That is the same philosophy he brings to every project.
Cross season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video with new episodes arriving every Wednesday.
Thank you for reading this entertainment news article. Visit VvipTimes daily for more exclusive interviews, streaming updates, and casting news from Hollywood and global OTT platforms.
