A while ago, I did a dream-casting for the movie Ngolo, which is an award winning screenplay written by authors Balogun Ojetade and Milton Davis.
It was fun to envision who would star in the low budget and big budget versions of the film. Now, I’d like to continue the fun by dream-casting my latest novella, Wrath of the Siafu, part 2 to the superhero origin story that began in the popular novella, A Single Link.
What exactly is dream-casting, you ask?
Dream-casting is the act of imagining which big name stars would fill roles in a movie based on your favorite book or comic book; or based on a story, book or screenplay that you wrote.
As I stated above, I do a big budget casting and a low-budget casting. It should be noted, however, that honestly, most of the actors cast in the low-budget version would be cast in the big budget version if I had any say in the matter – they are just that good.
Logline
A wrongfully incarcerated mixed martial arts champion must fight for her freedom, life and the lives of her loved ones after she is injected by a DNA-altering virus by the corrupt prison system.
Blurb
The near future…
A young genius is gunned down brutally by the police.
Remi Swan – our hero from the hard-hitting Action-Adventure novella, A Single Link – fights to defend the little boy and her.
She is arrested, imprisoned, forced to fight and infected with an experimental virus that turns women into raging monsters…or worse.
Possessed with incredible – and frightening – new abilities, Remi sets off a war against a system that has long brutalized Black people. A war that, alone, she might not be able to fight, but now she is backed by an army…a powerful and deadly force of her own making.
Now, that brutal system will suffer the…
Now that I have piqued your interest, let’s get on with the dream-casting:
Remi Swan: The first woman to fight against men in professional mixed martial arts, Remi is a celebrity who is loved and admired worldwide. She gladly accepts her role as a symbol for justice and empowerment for abused women and as a symbol for power for Black people, in general. She is a highly skilled fighter and teacher as well as a loving wife and mother to two young children.
Big Budget: Danai Gurira
Low Budget: Iyalogun Ojetade (Iyalogun portrays Remi in the short film, A Single Link, that the book was developed from).
Eboni Ahmed: A former martial arts student of Remi’s husband, Master Kundo Swan, Eboni was once a bitter rival of Remi’s. However, they have grown to be best friends. Eboni is the reigning women’s middleweight mixed martial arts champion. The only defeat she ever suffered was from Remi in a non-title match before Remi went on to fight in co-ed matches. Eboni is proud and a bit hot-headed, but has a good heart.
Big Budget: Sonequa Martin-Green
Low Budget: Angela Hill
Warden Anna Hess: A calculating, amoral bastion of the prison system. Warden Hess, a former geneticist and virologist, spearheaded the project that created the DNA-altering AMVO virus and its use on unwitting women prisoners.
Big Budget: Vera Farmiga
Low Budget: Casey Cudmore
Kundo Swan: Remi’s devoted husband. A lifelong indigenous Afrikan martial artist, MMA coach and pillar of the “conscious” Black community, Kundo is intelligent, caring and courageous. A wise and respected elder.
Big Budget: Brian White
Low Budget: Balogun Ojetade (Balogun played Kundo in the short film, A Single Link)
Peggy: The psychotherapist at Ames Medical Facility, where Remi and Eboni are imprisoned. Although Peggy is wheelchair bound, she is menacing and will do anything in the name of scientific discovery. She is brilliant, controlling and manipulative. Peggy has worked with Warden Hess on the AMVO project since its inception.
Big Budget: Melissa McBride
Low Budget: Mellie Miller
Daniel Wallace: Kundo’s best friend. Dan Wallace is a billionaire, who earned his wealth through his promotion of professional MMA fights through his company, WERK – World Extreme Ring Kombat. He gave Remi her shot at professional co-ed fights, which, from PPV sales and merchandising, made him one of the richest men in the United States.
Big Budget: Idris Elba
Low Budget: Akin Donaldson (Akin portrays Sekou / Dan Wallace in the short film, A Single Link)
Dee: Remi and Kundo’s neighbor and close friend. Dee started off as a nosy, but witty neighbor with a passing interest in the martial arts, but has become Remi’s corner person and assistant trainer.
Big Budget: Cynthia Kaye McWilliams
Low Budget: Dasie Thames
Changa bin Wahad: Activist and Founder / Chairman of the revolutionary organization, Freedom Takes Power. Changa is bold, outspoken and a skilled military strategist. He is politically and culturally astute, hard-working, ethical and a risk-taker. He joins Remi in her plan to topple the prison system.
Big Budget: Mekhi Phifer
Low Budget: Kalonji Jama Changa (I actually based Changa bin Wahad on Kalonji Jama Changa and the inimitable activist and freedom fighter, Dhoruba bin Wahad).
Janine: A thirteen year old girl altered by the AMVO virus. Janine is nearly seven feet tall, as big as a male power-lifter and as defined as a professional bodybuilder. Her immense strength, speed and endurance are matched by an immense rage. The AMVO virus and her treatment at Ames have driven Janine insane.
Big Budget: CGI
Low Budget: CGI
Chronicles of Harriet 
Good casting and great to cover both small and big budget picks.
Who would your picks for Mark Green be?