Tyler Perry will be the next actor to play fictional Washington detective-psychologist Alex Cross on the big screen, The Hollywood Reporter said.

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Morgan Freeman played the role in "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came A Spider," movies based on James Patterson's mystery novels.

Rob Cohen is to direct the new film for which the production company QED will be selling the worldwide distribution rights at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said Tuesday.

Patterson and Kerry Williamson penned a draft of the script, which Marc Moss was hired to finish.

The Hollywood Reporter did not say if the movie is based on one of Patterson's books.

Perry is a director, screenwriter and producer best known for plays and films focusing on his outrageous senior citizen character, Madea. This will be the first time Perry stars in a major project he didn't write himself.