Idris Elba is taking over the role of Dr Alex Cross as another James Patterson is being adapted for the big screen.
Morgan Freeman has played the role in movies Kiss The Girls and Along Came A Spider but the David Twohy's adaptation of Cross is looking towards the British actor to bring a new take on the character.
Twohy is currently re-working the Kerry Williamson script which will follow Cross as he tries to catch a serial rapist and mutilator with ties to the mob, he may also have killed Cross' pregnant wife years ago.
In recent years Elba has seen his star rocket as he mixed and match TV and movie roles in including hit show The Wire to movies such as RocknRolla and Obsessed.
And 2010 has been a busy year for the actor as he has starred in movies The Losers and Takers, the latter of which is yet to be released.
He has also completed work on big budget blockbuster Thor as well as returning to TV for BBc drama Luther.
But Twohy, who is also set to direct the movie, is yet to work on a third Riddick movie so production on the latest instalment of the Alex Cross story isn't likely to get underway until next year.
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