Freeman keeps the wheels turning in 'Spider'

Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Alex Cross in his latest film

(CNN) -- Morgan Freeman calls Alex Cross, the detective he plays in "Along Came a Spider," "the thinking man's action hero." Having played Cross before (in "Kiss the Girls," 1997), he knows what makes him the center of attention.

"At the risk of tooting my own horn beyond my normal penchant for horn tooting, I think what gets audiences with this character is watching the wheels turn," Freeman says. "So the trick of acting, I suppose, is … making his wheels visible."

In "Along Came a Spider," Cross has lost a partner and is ready for retirement. Of course, it's just at that moment when an evil adversary kidnaps a congressman's daughter and draws Cross into the case.

	VIDEO
CNN's Michael Okwu talks with Morgan Freeman about his new film, 'Along Came A Spider' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Cross, a District of Columbia detective and a doctor in psychology, is the creation of novelist James Patterson, who has used the character in six books so far. The author, who gave Cross a rest and did not feature him in his latest, "1st to Die," reportedly is pleased with Freeman's portrayal of the action hero with a brain.

CNN Showbiz Today Reports Correspondent Michael Okwu talked with Freeman and co-star Monica Potter about the web of intrigue surrounding "Along Came a Spider."

Patterson still keeping readers in suspense -- September 17, 1999
'Nurse Betty' -- sick in the head
September 7, 2000

imdb.com - Along Came a Spider (2001)
Official site - Along Came A Spider

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.