Idris Elba Out, Tyler Perry Will Play Alex Cross in Franchise Reboot

With his latest film, 'Madea's Big Happy Family,' set to open in April, director Tyler Perry certainly isn't letting moss grow under his feet. On his next project, however, he'll take direction from someone other than himself (for only the second time in his career).

Variety reports that Perry is set to star as the iconic Alex Cross in a reboot of the role popularized for moviegoers by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ('Kiss the Girls' and 'Along Came a Spider'). Ironically, the only film that Perry has appeared in that he didn't direct was a reboot of another movie franchise-- J.J Abrams' 'Star Trek,' in which he played Admiral Richard Barnett.

"He (J.J Abrams) was the first. It didn't make sense to do a movie that I can do myself," said Perry shortly after the release of 'Star Trek'. "I don't want you to call me and ask me to do a film about a black family. Now, if you want me to do 'Mission: Impossible', or 'Star Trek' or 'Wolverine', which I was called for but I couldn't do because I was doing 'The Family That Preys', but those sort of films, yes, I can do that."

Perry will star in 'I, Alex Cross,' James Patterson's origin tale of the detective/psychologist. Last August, British actor Idris Elba shared that he was offered the role while speaking at an event in Boston. Looks like talks died down sometime in the last few months.

Cross is described as an African-American detective and psychologist living and working in the Southeast D.C. After his stint with the FBI, Alex returns to private psychology practice, but continues to consult for the MPD and the FBI as needed, ultimately rejoining the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Case Squad.

Filming is set to start in June. It'll be interesting to see what Perry brings to the character that Freeman played so convincingly. Luckily Perry isn't a small man, because he'll have some big shoes to fill for fans of the series. Rob Cohen ('xXx: the Return of Xander Cage') will direct the film. No release date has been set.