Set in Freedonia – author Milton Davis’ world, brought to life in the Steamfunk! anthology and fully realized in the Steamfunk novel, From Here to Timbuktu – Harriet Tubman and her friend and rival, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, chase agents of the vengeful 
Alchemist out of their world and into another, in which Frederick Douglass and a quite different Harriet Tubman govern a country of former enslaved Africans that rivals – and often bests – the United States, England and France in power and technology.
Harriet must fight to stop a powerful alliance of British and American soldiers and the elite and fearsome Hwarang warriors of Joseon (“Korea”) from invading Freedonia. But a wicked force from Harriet’s world has come to destroy Freedonia and all it stands for. Will Harriet and her allies be able to stand against it?
This is the premise of my latest novel, The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia, the final installment in the Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman epic adventure.
I was recently asked to consider developing the Chronicles of Harriet epic Steamfunk series into a feature film franchise. That initiated my dream-casting of the latest book. I would like to share it with you here.
Harriet Tubman: Erika Alexander
Freedom fighter. Psychic. Soldier. Spy. Something…more. Much more.
Harriet possesses fearsome skills and extraordinary powers – “brushed by the hand of God” she calls it – that she uses to combat her enemies and the enemies of her beloved friend and teacher, Baas Bello.
When Baas Bello falls into trouble that can cost his life, Harriet travels to another reality to save him.
“Stagecoach” Mary Fields aka “Black Mary”: Aisha Tyler
Whiskey drinking, cigar smoking, anti-hero with enhanced senses, a hide as tough as granite and strength beyond nearly any beast or man, Mary Fields once had a standing bet at her local saloon: Five bucks and a glass of whiskey said she could knock out any cowboy – or cow – in Cascade, Montana with a single punch.
After the second bull and the third fool tried to take her up on it, nobody ever had the nerve to do it again.
Black Mary – who joined Harriet in Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman in her fight against the Alchemist, Edwin Stanton, the Ghul King, Caleb Butler and other natural and supernatural enemies – joins forces with her again in The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia.
Caleb Butler: Chris Wood
The Ghul King; he is a crazed cowboy with the power to infect humans, turning them into flesh-eating, form-bending ghuls.
Caleb is bent on infecting the world’s populace and turning them into servants in his ghul kingdom.
George Washington Carver: Samuel L. Jackson
The most intelligent and inventive mind in the Freedonia reality. From his laboratories at Tuskegee Institute, Dr. Carver designs and builds the weapons, vehicles and other creations that have helped to make Freedonia one of the wealthiest, powerful and technologically advanced nations in the world.
John Brown: Andrew Lincoln
A man obsessed with creating a utopia in which Black people are free, fearless and under his rule. John Brown feels Harriet Tubman betrayed him when she did not show at Harper’s Ferry and he loathes her for that.
Baas Bello: Idris Elba
The most intelligent and inventive mind in Harriet’s reality. Baas is an immortal and a super-genius who is skilled in most known arts and sciences as well as several African spiritual and magical traditions.
Harriet’s long-time teacher, friend and lover.
Frederick Douglass: Morgan Freeman
President of Freedonia. Along with Vice President Harriet Tubman, he led Freedonia to victory over the United States of America during the Reunion War.
The Alchemist / Professor Kleinhopper: Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Alchemist, genius engineer and showman was once a student of Baas Bello. His greed led him to betray Baas and as payback, Baas crippled him permanently, leaving him a quadriplegic.
The Alchemist wants Baas Bello dead and will pay any price to bring about his demise.
Colonel Kim: Lee Byung-hun
Colonel Kim Kang-min (“Kim” is his surname) is leader of the elite Joseon warriors, the Hwarang and commander of a mighty Geobukseon, or ‘turtle ship’, a heavily armored, submersible warship.
Colonel Kim is a master seaman, martial artist and swordsman.
Connor: Rob Terry
Colin: Rob Terry
Colin and Connor are identical twins from Whitechapel, a district in the East End of London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
These hulking twins are bouncers in a brothel until Caleb turns them and then employs them as his personal security.
There you have it! My choices for the big budget summer Blockbuster, The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman. Who would your choices for each starring role be?
Unfamiliar with the characters? Then, what are you waiting for? Order your copies of Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman and The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia and immerse yourself in some great Steamfunk for a while.
You can thank me later.
Chronicles of Harriet 
Looks like a great dream cast assembled! While reading I loved imagining Chiwetel Ejiofor speaking in a muffled wheeze through his plague doctor mask, eyes alight with evil brilliance darting feverishly around behind glass lenses. It would be a beautifully twisted visual to see a glowering Andrew Lincoln tearing open his coat to reveal Chris Wood’s motion-captured face emerging from the chest, laughing maniacally. Erika Alexander and Aisha Tyler doing their things and knocking henchmen and monsters around would be so much fun to see.
Any casting ideas for Pei Pei Ming? She seems rather young compared to some of the other characters so I’m trying to think of a younger Chinese actress who can pull off being a dignified rookie.
I wrote Pei Pei Ming with the actress Danni Wang in mind. She is the star of the feature films “Misfits” and “Always.”
Looks like a good choice. Thanks for answering!
[…] long-time admirer of Harriet Tubman, in Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman and The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia, Balogun elevates this already heroic icon to super-heroic status when he pits her against the […]