Cross Star Wes Chatham Talks Adaptations, Violence, & The Expanse’s Possible Return [Exclusive]

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For over thirty novels, James Patterson’s detective Alex Cross has consistently defeated clever and dangerous criminals. The first season of the Prime Video series Cross continued this trend, introducing Ed Ramsey, a serial killer who made his victims recreate famous crimes. However, the show’s second season took a different direction, moving away from the source material and focusing on Rebecca and Donnie, a pair of vigilantes seeking revenge against wealthy and corrupt individuals. Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for the show Cross.

Wes Chatham, known for his role in The Expanse, played Donnie, a dangerous character who acted as both enforcer and judge. While first appearing as a tough, quiet brute, Donnie proved to be more complex, driven by past experiences and a strong sense of loyalty. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to save him – in the latest episode, “Winnow,” Clare, Rebecca’s aunt, killed Donnie to protect her niece’s work. Chatham recently discussed adapting the source material, filming intense scenes, and Donnie’s fate with ComicBook, as well as his hopes for the future of the acclaimed sci-fi series, The Expanse.

You’ve adapted books into shows before with Hunger Games and The Expanse. How does starting with an existing story and fanbase make the acting process different or more rewarding?

As a film and TV fan, one thing I really appreciate is when a show has a clear roadmap. With The Expanse, knowing the beginning, middle, and end, and how my character fit into the larger story arc, was a huge help. But Cross is different. While it’s based on the novels, these aren’t direct adaptations. They’re telling completely original stories. My character, for instance, wasn’t in the books, so I’m building him from the ground up, starting with the script and letting that guide my process – just like I would with any new role.

It’s amazing to join a project with an established fanbase and an original character. It’s similar to working on Star Wars – you get to be part of a world you grew up with, but you have the freedom to create something new without the weight of playing an iconic, pre-existing character. That’s what it felt like with Cross. Aldis Hodge, on the other hand, had the challenge of portraying a well-known character that everyone already had expectations for.

How different has it been switching from the futuristic, space-based world of ‘The Expanse’ to the more realistic and down-to-earth setting of ‘Cross’?

There are two aspects to consider when answering that. First, there’s the personal impact, the day-to-day experience. We filmed The Expanse in Toronto, with two seasons during the summer, but most of the show was shot in winter. The constant darkness was a factor – waking up when it was dark, going to a dark studio to film scenes set in the darkness of space, and then finishing work to return home to more darkness. Doing that for six months means you barely see the sun at all.

The jumpsuit I wore was okay, but the space suits were really difficult to work in. They were so hot and restrictive, like a thick wetsuit, and we were doing a lot of physical stunts. Whenever I work on projects set in the present day, like Cross or the film Hotel Tehran, one of the first things I appreciate is being able to wear normal clothes and film in real locations. It’s great to see the sun and move around different sets instead of being stuck on the same stage repeatedly. That’s what I personally enjoy most.

Whether you’re writing a story set in space, New York, or anywhere else, the core creative process remains the same. It all comes down to storytelling – connecting with your characters, understanding their situation, and defining their motivations and struggles within each scene. Skilled writers can apply these fundamental elements to any setting; the location is simply a backdrop. The essential work of character development and narrative construction stays consistent, regardless of where the story takes place.

Your Cross character, Donnie, makes quite the entrance in the season-two premiere. 

That opening scene was surprisingly intense, though it ended up being heavily edited. The filmmakers really took a risk with it. I initially doubted they’d allow such a bold approach when I first read the script, but they confirmed they were going for it. We filmed it, but as we got closer to finishing the project, they started to reconsider and suggested cutting some of the more extreme parts.

What did you learn about igniting a Molotov cocktail and how effective of a weapon that could be?

We had a lot of fun practicing with Molotov cocktails – which are basically flammable liquids in bottles with a wick. The goal was to learn how to throw them so they wouldn’t just break on impact with the window, but instead go through and explode on the other side. We used fake glass to test our throws and make sure they worked correctly.

I did some testing with glass at a warehouse in Toronto. They were using leftover set pieces from various shows filmed there, like doorways. Interestingly, one of the doors I was testing was originally from a spaceship on The Expanse and had been reused for Star Trek. I recognized it immediately – it was the door to the hangar bay! It still had some markings from The Expanse, though it had been modified to fit the Star Trek set. It was amazing to be impacting a piece of television history like that.

Filming that scene was a blast! I remember walking onto the set and immediately starting to throw Molotov cocktails. They had a system set up with tanks and pipes releasing gas underneath, so when the bottles shattered and exploded, they’d crank up the flames for a huge effect. It was a truly exciting day to be on set.

At first, Donnie seems like the strong, physical presence in this couple, similar to the role of the partner in the Bonnie and Clyde story. However, he’s actually a very complex character. Knowing his past, how much did it help you understand why he does what he does and what drives him?

After experiencing war, Donnie was returning home to his family farm, a place that always provided him comfort and a sense of peace. He hoped to heal and make sense of what he’d been through, envisioning a return to the life he once knew. Like many veterans, he’d romanticized home and longed to reconnect with his family. However, when he arrived, he discovered the farm had been taken from them unfairly, devastating his father and impacting the entire family. Instead of becoming a sanctuary, the farm became a source of pain. In a moment of anger, Donnie acted impulsively and did something he deeply regretted. Now, he’s driven by a desire for revenge and justice – not just for what was taken from his family, but for the destruction of his own peace of mind and the harm done to innocent children.

Donnie had a dramatic exit this week, getting into a gunfight with Cross before being unexpectedly killed. What did you think of how he died, and how did it move the story forward?

A central idea this season is how the harmful actions of the very wealthy and powerful affect the lives of many others. Donnie is one of those affected; he’s been deeply damaged, both physically and emotionally, by the choices of another character, and when the story begins, he’s already lost everything he once hoped for.

Donnie had essentially lost his will to live well before the final confrontation. He was driven solely by his need for revenge. It’s similar to the character Riggs from Lethal Weapon, who felt his work was the only thing preventing him from self-destruction. For Donnie, that purpose was replaced by vengeance – it was all that kept him going.

His death feels both sad and unavoidable. He was consumed by his desire for revenge, and that ultimately led to his downfall. I think if his family’s farm still existed, he could have found purpose and rebuilt his life after the war. But with that connection to the past gone, Donnie had nowhere left to turn.

The second season of Cross is noticeably more intense and somber than the first. Does it seem like the show, through Donnie’s story, is exploring the complexities of law and justice, and how easily the boundaries between right and wrong can become unclear?

It’s remarkable how relevant this show is, especially given current events. Even during filming, it felt like the show was mirroring what was happening in the news. The timing of its release is perfect. The central theme and story we explore this season directly addresses the very point you just made – it’s really at the heart of everything.

It’s been a while since The Expanse was on TV – the last episode aired in 2022. Thinking back, what’s your strongest memory from the very first day of filming?

I’ll never forget the first day of filming The Expanse. The very first person I met was Dominique Tipper, and we had a long conversation as we walked to set. We were about to shoot the elevator scene – the one where viewers first see our characters. As we walked, another scene was wrapping up, featuring Steven Strait forcing a door open with a crowbar. I remember entering the studio – it was dark, but as we approached the set, I could see the spaceship and all its various components. The set was incredibly detailed and massive, filled with working radars, displays, and lights. It was unbelievable – like stepping into another world, a distant universe. It felt like walking into a dream.

I think Amos is seriously one of the greatest characters ever written in sci-fi, and I’ve been wondering what makes him so good. What do you think it is about him that people love so much?

What Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham achieved with The Expanse is a fascinating blend of vulnerability and unwavering confidence in their characters. It’s a compelling combination – a character like Amos, for example, is incredibly resilient, almost like he could survive anything, even a nuclear explosion, yet he also has deep vulnerabilities. That contrast is what makes the writing so interesting.

Honestly, what really gets me about Amos is how he’s constantly striving to be better, even though he knows he’s capable of terrible things. He’s driven by this promise he made, and he never lets it go. He doesn’t offer his loyalty easily, but when he does, it’s absolute – he’d do anything for that person. And then, to add to all that, he has this really strong connection with kids. It’s just… fascinating to see someone who’s capable of so much violence. It’s almost scary to think about how easily he could go down a dark path without guidance, not even realizing the harm he’s causing. But then you see this incredibly gentle, innocent side to him, and the contrast is just… amazing. It’s that whole mix of darkness and light that makes him such a compelling character, you know?

Now that the TV show The Expanse has ended, the story continues in comic book form. Why was a comic book the best way to expand the narrative?

I recently had the amazing experience of writing a comic book series called ‘A Little Death’ with the incredibly talented Andy Diggle – you might know his work on ‘The Dragon Tooth.’ Honestly, it’s been one of the highlights of my career! Alcon Entertainment gave me the chance, and it actually opened up a whole new world for me. I never really grew up reading comics; I was raised pretty rurally, and they just weren’t readily available. It’s funny, because I was absolutely captivated by the Richard Donner ‘Superman’ movie when it came out – I watched it endlessly! Had someone put a comic book in my hands back then, I have a feeling I would have been completely hooked.

Writing is excellent practice because it forces you to be concise and focused. You really need to know your story and what you want to communicate, and ideally, collaborate with a talented artist to bring it to life. I’ve really enjoyed working on comics and am grateful for their success. I’d definitely like to do another project like it in the future.

Are there plans for another chapter? Have you been working on any?

The latest issue is out, and we haven’t discussed it yet. I’m really hoping we can continue the story through television for another two seasons, though that’s not guaranteed. Something interesting is happening with The Expanse right now – I recently filmed a movie near Russia, and I’m amazed by how many people recognize me as a fan of the show. In fact, I’m getting twice as many fans approaching me at the airport now as when the show was originally on! When I ask people when they started watching, they often say they just discovered it through streaming algorithms. It’s incredible to see the fanbase continuing to grow even after all this time, and it’s really exciting.

I’m aware there are two more books in the series, and it would be incredible to continue the story on screen, mirroring the time jump they feature. Imagine if we could return and finish the narrative, even surpassing what we’ve already achieved – that’s something rarely seen on television. As an actor, the idea of portraying a character across a thirty-year span and then bringing their story to a satisfying conclusion is really appealing. I don’t know if it will actually happen, but there’s definitely interest and discussions about it.

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2026-03-16 17:15