Tyler Perry steps into Morgan Freeman’s gumshoes to play  James Patterson’s titular detective in Rob Cohen’s Alex Cross. This first trailer suggests that Perry, while an imposing figure, won’t bring the same gravitas to the role that the previously cast Idris Elba would have. Although it’s only a two minute trailer, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Perry is a bit out of his league. It is however, nice to see him headlining a film where he’s not in fat makeup and a dress. Matthew Fox, Lost’s Jack Shepherd, looks to be camping it up like Elias Koteas circa the late 90s.

Not being a fan of either Kiss the Girls or Along Came  A Spider (the two entries starring Freeman as Cross), I can’t say there’s much in this trailer that gets me excited for the film coming in October. Rob Cohen, helmer of XXX, Fast and the Furious and Stealth isn’t exactly a great sign either.

What do you think? Can Perry make the transition to big-budget leading man and jumpstart this series?