BAD BLOOD SPILLS EASY is my 4th novel. It’s been finished for a year. There’s been a search for agents for about six months before I took a break.
BAD BLOOD tells the story of retired Army Ranger sniper and ex-LAPD cop turned private investigator, Blade Carter. Someone has Blade in the crosshairs and he doesn’t know who—but the bodies are dropping in Southern California. He turns to his best friend and former partner in green and blue, Zeke Parsons. Zeke still works inside the halls of the LAPD as a homicide detective.
Together, the two friends lean on connections, old enemies, new friends, and anyone else willing to help them see this dangerous race all the way to the finish line.
Considering I was a film/theater student during my college days in the 80s, I write in a very cinematic style. I flesh out the scenes, the surroundings, and the characters. And hey, I write some damn good dialog. Sure, I admit there’s some quality one-liners courtesy of Blade Carter in this book.
So, today, I sat down and asked myself when this book breaks and Hollywood clamors for the movie rights, who would I want to step into the shoes of the main characters.
So, let’s take a look …..
ROLE : Blade Carter / Chris Evans
I want star power. I also want diversity. Blade Carter is an action star. He carries himself with a brooding intensity. But he’s the toughest dude there is. But he’s also got a heart of gold and soft spot for animals, children, and women. Make no mistake, he’s a protector.
While Blade is a bit of man-mountain, finding someone who fits that role physically and has the necessary talent is a difficult bill. I went with someone who has the talent, is the age fit, and almost fits the size requirement.
Mr. Captain America himself, Chris Evans.
He’s going to have to go a little longer on the hair with some gray thrown in, but I have faith he can get it done.
ROLE : Zeke Parsons / Aldis Hodge
Zeke Parsons is well-dressed, charismatic, charming, and funny. He’d take a bullet for Blade Carter. He’s smart, well spoken, and a guy who knows how to get answers.
Aldis Hodge is the perfect complement to Chris Evans. He brings diversity, rising star power, and has done action films. I remember thinking as soon as I had finished writing Zeke’s introduction scene in the book, Aldis’ name immediately popped into my head.
ROLE : Jason Duchovny / Jack Quaid
Jason Duchovny is the lead detective assigned to the events swirling around Blade. He’s a young, smart, yet seasoned detective. He’s also by-the-book, uptight, clean-cut and a bit nerdy.
I went with Dennis Quaid’s son, Jack. Can’t go wrong with bloodlines. He just feels perfect for the role. He already plays a very similar character on Amazon’s The Boys. He’s a guy who’s good at what he does, but somehow always out of place and the subject of ridicule.
ROLE : Kyle Williams / Tom Hopper
Kyle Williams is Jason Duchovny’s young partner. He’s a former USC football star with a temper. And Blade Carter LOVES fucking with this guy, harrassing him from the first moments they meet.
I went with an actor I really like who fit’s the role physically and in terms of talent, British actor, Tom Hopper. Tom came to prominence as Billy Bones in the brilliant Starz drama, Black Sails. He eventually followed that up by starring in the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy. Tom is physically imposing at 6’5” and has the acting chops, having played more than a few rolles as an American without missing a beat. He’s a little older for the role, but since he looks young, he’ll fit just fine.
Trivia : There’s a TwiXter account called Tom Hopper’s Arms : The Gun Show
ROLE : Dodo Carter / Lynda Carter
Blade’s mother is a no-nonsense badass in her own right. She’s also the only thing in the world he loves more than his dog, Diablo. He’s fiercely protective of her. She’s described as having an appearance rivaling the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. This was an easy one to cast.
I went with my first childhood crush, Wonder Woman herself, the beautiful and extremely talented Lynda Carter. (In case you didn’t know, she’s a very talented singer.)
At the age of 72, she’s still an absolute knockout.
ROLE : Delilah Doyle / Scarlett Johannson
Delilah Doyle is a dropdead knockout. She’s a surfer and a badass who runs her own bar on the beach boardwalk in Southern California. She’s also quite fond of Mr. Blade Carter. Born in Los Angeles to parents form Georgia, this woman has a honey-smooth southern drawl with a heart of fire. And she definitely doesn’t tolerate any bullshit. Seriously. That’s the sign in her bar : NO BULLSHIT ALLOWED.
This was an easy one. I went with Chris Evans’ Marvel co-star. She’s got the acting chops and the diversity. And it’s more star power in the mix.
ROLE : John Michael Clark / Guy Pearce
John Michael Clark runs a major pharmaceutical company in the heart of Los Angeles. He’s had his run-ins with Blade Carter. Why? Because Blade’s ex-wife, Jill, married him. They avoid each other at all costs.
I went with a personal favorite here. Guy Pearce can play any role. As an Australian, he can do American accents better than most Americans. He’s played characters in the vein of Clark’s businessman before. But Clark runs an interesting arc in the book. And I can’t think of an actor more suited to play him than the hyper-talented Guy Pearce.
ROLE : Jill Gilmore-Clark / Olivia Wilde
Blade’s ex-wife, Jill, struggled to deal with the demons he brought home from the war. Eventually, it led to a divorce. They still care for each other despite going their separate ways. Some would say Jill has had far more success in moving on, having married the very wealthy John Michael Clark. She’s the typical type of woman who falls for Blade - stunning, athletic, tough.
I went with Olivia Wilde here. I had a hard time finding someone that fit the right appearance and talent. This was the hardest role for me to cast.
ROLE : Gordy Howard / Sydney Sweeney
Jordy with a “G” is how she continually refers to herself.
Gordy Howard works for Clark’s pharmaceutical company. In helping with the investigation, she’s smitten with Blade Carter. Blade definitely has a magnetism that draws women into his orbit.
Here, I went with the up-and-coming talent, Sydney Sweeney. She’s a fit from a physical perspective, while starting to make a name for herself based on her talent (at least, based on what I’ve read). I only know her work in the Rolling Stones video for Angry.
ROLE : Rory Becker / Zack Ward
Rory Becker and Blade Carter are not friends despite having served together in combat. They see a different way of doing things. And if you’re doing something Blade Carter perceives as wrong, he’ll let you know. Blade and Rory have an unusual relationship beyond just their time together in uniform.
Since Rory is a redhead, I went with a friend of a friend, Mr. Zack Ward. Zack has been around Hollywood for over forty years. Some of you may know him as Scut Farkus from A Christmas Story. He’s done action and horror fims as well as a host of TV shows, most notably as Dave during the three-season-run of Titus.
ROLE : Diablo
Last but definitely not least is Blade’s amazingly well-trained and dangerously loyal sidekick, the four-year-old Doberman known as Diablo. Whoever they get to play this amazing dog is going to have to be magical. Diablo is a very smart Doberman who protects his close friend while following any direction he’s given.
Everyone is going to want a dog like Diablo!
The amazing
says that he's her favorite character. 😅There you have it. That’s the cast I would put behind the camera. Only a few people have read the novel so far. So, it’s hard for me to get reader opinion. (I have been putting sample covers out there as I work towards pubishly.)
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me till the end!
Great picks! I pet sit a Doberman, Max ( that could be his claim to fame 😉)