Amazon’s Prime Video is stacking its spring lineup: the thriller Cross has been renewed for a third season while the rebooted competition series American Gladiators will bow in April. Both moves sharpen the streamer’s push into high-profile, appointment viewing.

What’s new: Cross renewed, Gladiators premiere set

Prime Video announced that Cross — the James Patterson–inspired thriller starring Aldis Hodge as detective Alex Cross — will return for Season 3. The new season will again consist of eight episodes and brings back Hodge as both star and executive producer.

Separately, Prime Video has set an April premiere for its reboot of American Gladiators. The first season will launch April 17 with the first three episodes available immediately, followed by three additional episodes on April 24 and the final four episodes on May 1.

Who’s involved and what to expect

Cross continues to draw on the world created by James Patterson’s novels while expanding its own serialized mysteries. Season 2 saw Hodge’s Alex Cross juggling high-stakes protection and murder investigations — a storyline that included Matthew Lillard as a billionaire tied to a threat and a large ensemble cast featuring Alona Tal, Isaiah Mustafa, Jeanine Mason, Wes Chatham, Josh Peck, Juanita Jennings and others. Producers on the series include Hodge, Patterson, creator Ben Watkins and a slate of executive producers from Amazon, Paramount Television Studios and collaborators.

American Gladiators revives the physical-competition format that first launched in 1989. The new season follows contestants facing off against a roster of Gladiators in arena-style events; the staggered weekly drops aim to build conversation and water-cooler momentum across two weekends.

Why it matters

Prime Video’s timing underscores a two-pronged strategy: lean into serialized prestige drama that generates sustained viewership while also programming event-style reality/competition that can draw immediate social buzz.

Cross has already proven to be a global asset for the streamer — Season 1 reached 40 million viewers in its first 20 days and climbed to No. 1 on Prime Video in more than 100 countries. It returned to Nielsen’s Top 10 tracker with Season 2 and picked up awards recognition, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards; Aldis Hodge also earned a performance award at the 2025 NAMIC Vision Awards.

“From the beginning, ‘Cross’ has captivated audiences with its layered characters, pulse-pounding suspense and emotionally grounded storytelling,” Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement Wednesday. “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.”

Industry and audience reaction

Renewal came quickly — announced the day after Cross’s Season 2 finale — a sign of confidence from Amazon executives. Viewership metrics and award wins have given the series both critical and commercial momentum, while Gladiators’ scheduling aims to create hype through concentrated weekend drops.

What to watch next

  • American Gladiators: First three episodes on Prime Video April 17; new episodes April 24 and May 1.
  • Cross Season 3: Production and release timeline have not yet been announced; expect updates on casting and a premiere window from Amazon in the coming months.

For Prime Video subscribers, these moves mean a mix of binge-ready drama and appointment-viewing competition as the streamer heads into spring.