James Patterson's best-selling book series, , has made its small-screen debut on Amazon Prime Video, and the mystery thriller has already been renewed for a second season. The series concerns the titular Alex Cross, a detective in Washington D.C., who uses his background in forensic psychology to get into the minds of killers and solve some of the capital's most difficult cases. Alex Cross has long been one of Patterson's most famous fictional heroes, and the Amazon Prime Video TV series is hardly the first time the beloved detective has been seen on screen.

What makes the TV show different from popular Alex Cross movies like 1997's Kiss the Girls or 2001's Along Came a Spider, is that the show merely uses the character as a jumping-off point to tell a new story. Not adapting any particular Alex Cross novel was a bold choice, but it helps separate the show from contemporaries such as Reacher, that spend each season tackling one of the character's many literary adventures. Confident that Cross will be yet another thriller mainstay for the platform, Amazon Prime Video preemptively renewed the James Patterson adaptation for a sophomore season.

With the show's renewal out of the way long before season 1 even debuted, the latest news confirms that filming has already wrapped on Cross season 2. Announced nearly a month before season 1 dropped on Prime Video, it has now been confirmed that . Though many details remain elusive regarding what is to come in the next set of episodes, it's clear that Amazon is rushing out the first two seasons of the show in order to spur interest.

Long waits for shows in the streaming era have become the norm, but Amazon is clearly trying to buck that trend by keeping things on a yearly schedule. Though a timeline for season 2's release hasn't been revealed, it probably won't drop too close to the premiere of season 1. , something that's increasingly difficult in the modern age. Series creator Ben Watkins appeared at New York Comic Con in October 2024, and jokingly quipped:

"I just want to preface this by saying if you do have something [you want from season 2], I hope that it will be something you did see, because it's already shot."

Viewers weren't kept in suspense when it came to a follow-up season for Cross, and . With updates coming fast throughout 2024 regarding the James Patterson series, Prime Video revealed that Cross season 2 was in the works all the way back in May 2024. This date came months before season 1 even had a release date, and it's clear that Prime Video was always planning two seasons from the start.

Unlike most modern TV series that have protracted production timelines that stretch on for years, Cross season 2 is likely to arrive sooner than expected. With the sophomore outing already filmed, the post-production process is most likely already almost completed. However, a release date hasn't been announced yet, and Prime Video is likely holding onto the second season until the right time to release it. It could be that Cross season 2 will arrive in the fall like its predecessor, or it could come in late summer 2025.

Every adaptation of James Patterson's Alex Cross is listed in the chart below:

The cast of Cross is expected to fluctuate each season, but . Leading the series is Leverage star Aldis Hodge as the titular detective, and he brings a new wrinkle to the character not seen in previous adaptations. Joining him is Isaiah Mustafa as Cross' partner, Detective John Sampson, and their bond is one of the most important aspects to the Alex Cross character. Cross' family is also expected to return in season 2, and the devoted family man has built his life around his kids in the wake of his wife's death.

Though recurring cast members are very important to the show's continuity, Cross season 2 has also added new names as well, some of whom are well-known figures. First, , who is described as a cutthroat business tycoon. Lance could be one of Ramsey's (Ryan Eggold) high-powered collaborators, but nothing is confirmed. Next, Jeanine Mason (Roswell, New Mexico) will play a vengeful judge named Rebecca, while Wes Chatham (The Expanse) is playing Donnie, a far-right-leaning military veteran who is now a farmer by trade.

The cast of Cross season 2 will likely include:

Though all the details have yet to be revealed, the ending of Cross season 1 has clearly set the stage for what comes next in season 2. Cross and his team successfully caught the "Fanboy" killer, and what's more, they took away his pride by destroying his scrapbook that would give him the notoriety he so much craved. Unfortunately, this puts the team in a difficult spot, and

This clearly opens the door for even more twists and turns in season 2, since . Furthermore, subtle teases such as Kayla Craig's potential relation to the book series villain, Kyle Craig, means there is a lot more coming in the future. On the home front, Cross resolved the twists behind his wife's murder, but he'll have to carry the emotional weight for the rest of his life.

Since season 2 is already confirmed, and a few characters have been revealed, it's possible to patch together a picture of what the next set of episodes will look like. Matthew Lillard's new character, Lance, is a ruthless self-made business tycoon, and he could be attached to the "Fanboy" killer. (such as his assault of an innocent man in season 1), which could put him in hot water. Lastly, season 2 introduces a right-wing veteran-turned-farmer, Donnie, who could tie back to Cross' struggles against racism.