Michael Wendroff's "What Goes Around"

Michael Wendroff is an author and marketing consultant, and has an MBA from NYU. His background is running marketing and advertising for Fortune 500 companies, and he now runs a global consulting practice (one of his clients is a $4 billion firm headquartered in India). He has homes in New York City and Sarasota.

Here Wendroff dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, What Goes Around:

I've been told my book, What Goes Around, would make a great Netflix Original (I was kind of thinking of the Silver Screen, but hey, I'll take it).

A key protagonist in my film shares some similarities with Jack Reacher, but I sure as hell don't want Tom Cruise playing him! I could see John Cena playing him. Given his impressive stature, and background in action films, he could easily portray his stoic and physical presence. Another good choice would be Chris Hemsworth, best known for playing Thor in the Marvel films. He has the size, strength, and charisma to play such a commanding character.

The other protagonist in the novel, his foil, is a female detective, Jill. She gets partnered up with Jack, and together they must solve a string of killings in a small town. They had been enemies ever since their days together in the police academy, and now must see if they can find the killer before they kill each other. Jill is smart, intuitive and beautiful. I think Emily Blunt would be a good choice to portray her. She is versatile and capable of playing tough, smart roles (Sicario, A Quiet Place). She combines depth with an approachable yet strong persona that would suit a detective role.

There is also a naive teenager in this thriller that gets caught up in the evil of others. This could be played by Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea, Boy Erased) because he has the emotional range to play a character struggling with identity and regret. Another good choice would be Timothée Chalamet, who excels in roles where characters face emotional turmoil and personal growth.

For director, I would choose David Fincher. With movies like Gone Girl, Zodiac, and Seven, he has a talent for dark, psychological thrillers with complex characters and shocking twists. Another candidate would be M. Night Shyamalan, given the twist in The Sixth Sense and the twist in What Goes Around.

Visit Michael Wendroff's website.

The Page 69 Test: What Goes Around.

Q&A with Michael Wendroff.

--Marshal Zeringue