Confirmation, Story & Everything We Know

Prime Video’s Cross season 2 presents a climactic ending, and the storyline will continue with season 3, which has been officially renewed. James Patterson is one of the most successful modern crime writers, and his most successful series, by far, is the Cross books. When Prime announced that they’d adapt the stories for the screen, fans everywhere celebrated.

However, with every new TV show, there’s anxiety about early cancellations. Stability doesn’t come until around 3 seasons in. For this reason, Cross fans have waited on pins and needles to find out if the story would continue past its initial two-season order.

Luckily, the same day that the finale of Cross season 2 debuted, Prime Video confirmed that the show would come back for season 3. Here is everything we know about the upcoming season.

Prime Video Has Renewed Cross For Season 3

The same day that season 2’s finale, Prime Video announced that the show would continue for Cross season 3. The upcoming season will consist of eight episodes. Amazon MGM’s head of global television, Peter Friedlander shared his enthusiasm about continuing the Alex Cross’s journey with the show’s creator and cast. He stated this:

“Aldis has delivered a definitive portrayal of Alex Cross, anchoring the series with depth, intelligence, and heart. We’re thrilled to continue this journey with Ben, our collaborators at Paramount Television Studios, and the rest of the incredible cast to bring even more of James Patterson’s iconic world to our global Prime Video audience.”

This response makes complete sense when looking at the ratings for Cross seasons 1 and 2 on Rotten Tomatoes. The first season holds 75% on the Tomatometer, while the second season has a 95%.

The streaming numbers also show great success for the Prime Video original. The first season received 40 million viewers within the first four weeks (via Collider). What’s more the Cross season 2 premiere ranked eighth on Nielsen’s list of the most streamed original shows, and it garnered 613 million minutes during the first week (via The Wrap).

Warning: Every section after this includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Cross season 2!

Cross Season 3 Story Details

Cross season 2’s ending dropped a massive bombshell on viewers and characters alike. Alex Cross has remained a fervent believer that the police and FBI were doing the right thing. He stood by his profession, despite dissenters. However, Cross season 2 makes him sit with uncomfortable truths.

The events of the second season forced him to accept that there isn’t always a clear black and white when it comes to the morality of crime. He might not like Luz’s methods, but he can’t deny that she has honorable intentions. What’s more, he realizes that he’s a part of a deeply corrupt system that would rather put optics ahead of justice.

Alex has all the evidence needed to punish Lance Durand for child trafficking, child labor, and for illegal disposal of a dead body. Cross’s flash drive proves everything. Unfortunately, when he asks the FBI to do something about it, the bureau says that Durand’s Prosperity Seed project is making the United States into a hero. They’re not willing to go after him for his crimes.

After all the events of Cross season 2, he decides he can no longer be a part of the system, turning into his badge and resigning. Whether he goes back to the police or not, Cross season 3 will need to explore our main character’s cognitive dissonance between his passion for justice and the policing system he participates in.

On top of that, Cross season 3 will need to continue one storyline set up in season 2. In James Patterson’s Cross books, Mastermind is Kyle Craig, Alex Cross’s biggest nemesis. He starts out as a friend from the FBI who helps Alex with his cases, with the quid pro quo that the assistance gets reciprocated. Secretly, he’s a serial killer with no morals, and eventually Cross’s stalker.

Season 2 of the Cross TV show finally uttered the name “Mastermind” as someone with a connection to Kayla Craig. However, they don’t reveal much about the character. It seems like they’re changing the character’s backstory, since most of Mastermind’s backstory is now attached to Kayla Craig.

There are no guarantees about what they’re retaining or changing, though, since they haven’t revealed the character’s identity. Cross season 3 either needs to continue providing us breadcrumbs about Mastermind, setting up their later reveal, or they need to actually reveal the character’s identity.

Since the storylines of Cross seasons 1 and 2 don’t come from the books, Mastermind’s identity is probably the thing fans of the novels are most interested in. Whomever they reveal as Mastermind, they need to be just as menacing and manipulative as Kyle Craig.

Which Characters Can Return For Cross Season 3

Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross and Alona Tal as Kayla Craig aiming their guns in Cross season 2

Cross season 2’s biggest characters almost all live to the end of the series, and they could theoretically appear again. The pretty much guaranteed returning cast are Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, Melody Hurd and Caleb Elijah as Jannie and Damon, Isaiah Mustafa as Detective John Sampson, Juanita Jennings as Regina “Nana Mama” Cross, and Alona Tal as Kayla Craig.

Some cast members that will most likely return but aren’t guaranteed are Samantha Walkes as Elle, Johnny Ray Gill as Bobby Trey, and Jenniefer Wigmore as Chief April Anderson. The ending also shows Jeanine Mason’s Luz very much alive, so it’s possible she’ll come back as well, though not likely.

However, there are a few cast and characters who most likely won’t come back. Matthew Lillard’s Lance Durand is probably gone since the ending shows the FBI finding bodies buried on his farm. There wouldn’t be a clear reason for any Josh Peck’s Senator Pete Ashford to return, since he has fulfilled his purpose by exposing Durand. Mind you, they could bring him back as an ally to Alex Cross in the future.

That being said, virtually anything can happen in Prime Video’s Cross, especially if they follow the lead of the books. Unless a character explicitly dies onscreen, they are fair game to return.

What The Cross Creator Has Said About Season 3

Alex Cross is teary in Cross season 2 — Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in Prime Video’s Cross

The Cross creator, Ben Watkins, has shared some insight into how Cross season 2’s ending will impact the third season. During an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, he discussed that the creative team will focus on finding an issue so compelling that Alex Cross will willingly rejoin the force. Watkins stated:

“I love how we end this season, and I really wanted to put us on the hook for Cross, who has always defined himself as a detective and a protector, but by the end of season two is wondering the best way to live out that sort of passion and decides that being a cop is not the best way to do it. That puts us on the hook for finding a way to draw him back in. And so obviously season three would be built around coming up with an issue that’s compelling enough that would force him back in, but we still get to explore all the reasons that he was conflicted in the first place.”

Watkins also confirmed that “one of the most legendary nemeses in the Cross series” would eventually become a key villain for a season, obviously referencing Mastermind. He stated that they would continue building toward that in Cross season 3.

Considering Watkins has previously stated that he has a four-season plan for Cross, it’s likely Mastermind will take center stage in season 4. They haven’t done enough work yet to put them in the driver’s seat for season 3. With that in mind, Cross season 3 will need to focus on building him up as a terrifying presence.