Alex Cross sequel Double Cross is already actively in the works

Well that didn’t take long.  Hell, the movie isn’t even out yet.

Despite a very middling verdict from our own Chris Bumbray (who is far from alone in his opinion), ALEX CROSS is already set to have a sequel in the form of DOUBLE CROSS.  An adaptation of the 13th book in James Patterson’s long-standing and highly successful series, DOUBLE CROSS comes with this plot set-up: Just when Alex Cross’s life is calming down, he is drawn back into the game to confront a criminal mastermind like no other. The elaborate murders that have stunned Washington, DC, are the wildest that Alex Cross and his new girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, have ever seen. This maniac adores an audience, and stages his killings as spectacles in public settings. Alex is pursuing a genius of terror who has the whole city on edge as it waits for his next move. And the killer loves the attention, no doubt–he even sets up his own Web site and live video feed to trumpet his madness.

Tyler Perry is already signed on to return, which is just as well as his performance is the main positive singled out by most critics regarding ALEX CROSS.  There’s no word as to whether the infinitely more lambasted Rob Cohen will also return to direct, but I would imagine Tyler will want to protect the solid work he’s doing and seek to ensure that whomever is brought on to helm will be able to craft a good movie alongside/around his acting.  Tyler’s focus on his acting – made possible by foregoing the writing/directing/producing responsibilities he normally takes on – seems to have paid off rather well.  Now c’mon Hollywood – let’s get a good movie to go with that gamble.

Whom do you think 1) would be a good choice to direct and 2) the studio could afford on a smaller budget?

Would critics have reviewed ALEX CROSS better if Rachel Nichols had shown up like this? Probably not, but I certainly wouldn’t have objected to her doing so one little bit…