Keely Hutton's "Soldier Boy"

Keely Hutton is a novelist, educational journalist, and former teacher. She is the recipient of the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop scholarship at Chautauqua. She has worked closely with Ricky Richard Anywar, the founder of the international charity Friends of Orphans who was a child soldier in Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army, to tell his story in her first novel, Soldier Boy.

Here Hutton dreamcasts an adaptation of Soldier Boy:

If I were asked to cast a movie adaptation of Soldier Boy, I would pick the following talented actors and actresses for the main roles.

These actors brought me to tears on a weekly basis during the first season of the TV show This Is Us. I have no doubt they could handle the emotionally heavy scenes in Soldier Boy with raw honesty.

Samuel - Lonnie Chavis –Young Randall in This Is Us.

Ricky - Niles Fitch – Teenage Randall in This Is Us.

Patrick - Jermel Nakia – Young William in This Is Us.

Okot (Ricky’s neighbor) - Ron Cephas Jones –Older William in This Is Us and Bobby in Luke Cage.

Otim - Sterling K Brown –Adult Randall in This Is Us. Otim demands an unrelenting intensity that Brown has proven he can deliver.

The Man - I loved Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in the movie 42 and as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. He has a commanding presence and quiet, gentle strength. He would be a perfect choice to play the important role of the Man.

Komakech - Academy Award winning actor Mahershala Ali, who played Juan in the movie Moonlight and Cornell “Cotton Mouth” Stokes in the Netflix series Luke Cage, would be brilliant as Commander Komakech. Ali had proven he can handle portraying a wide range of characters, which would be necessary for Komakech. In one moment, the commander displays detached cruelty to his rebels and in the next, jovial pride.

Ricky’s mother - Mary, is a loving mother and strong woman. Florence Kasumba from Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, and Wonder Woman could embody Mary’s strength and love.

Ricky’s father - Babs Olusanmokun, whose powerful portrayal of Omoro, Kunta Kinte’s father in the remake of Roots, conveyed a regal strength and humble intelligence that would be perfect for Ricky’s father Michael.

Visit Keely Hutton's website.

The Page 69 Test: Soldier Boy.

--Marshal Zeringue