Frank Sennett's "Shadow State"

Frank Sennett has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana and a journalism degree from Northwestern University. He has taught creative writing at UCLA Extension and has published nine books. He has served as a senior leader at multiple media outlets, including Time Out Chicago and MTV.com. He also spent one lucky season in the Wrigley Field press box covering the Chicago Cubs.

Here Sennett dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, Shadow State:

If Shadow State scores a film adaptation--which would be a natural progression, given the propulsive, cinematic nature of the story--I'd be thrilled to see Michael B. Jordan cast as Rafe Hendrix.

I was blown away by Jordan's acting in the tragic Fruitvale Station (2013), and was then delighted to see him expand into a range of different film roles, including his excellent Creed franchise. There's a mix of toughness and humanity in Jordan's performances that would aid his portrayal of Rafe. Hendrix is white in the book, but Jordan could easily inhabit the character and make him his own.

One reason Jordan is well suited for the role is that he has already done a credible job portraying a Special Forces veteran pulled into a conspiracy that threatens his family in 2021's Without Remorse, based on the Tom Clancy novel.

Jordan's age and physicality also line up nicely with Hendrix. And I like the fact that he's a fellow Aquarian. Maybe we'd become best friends on set.

Follow Frank Sennett on Twitter.

The Page 99 Test: Shadow State.

--Marshal Zeringue