Hollywood What If?

In talking to DaCapo Press about Alex Kershaw's new book about USS Tang's fifth and final war patrol, "Escape From the Deep", the subject of Hollywood came up. While no details were given and no production deals were imminent, at least from what I gathered, the word is they are interested in shopping the film rights. The book is certainly written with a cinematic flair.

So, what if a production company options the book and a script gets written? Who, as an imaginary, all powerful Hollywood producer, would you cast as 33 year old Dick O'Kane?