Fan Casting Dr David Valentino in Splashdown Romance

Dr. David Valentino is a brilliant but morally compromised marine biologist whose obsession with scientific achievement has twisted his ethics into something dangerous. Once a respected researcher, he's now driven by a god complex that manifests in his manipulation of both people and marine ecosystems for personal gain. Charming and intellectually seductive, Valentino uses his credentials and charisma to seduce colleagues and investors alike, masking his ruthlessness beneath a veneer of sophistication. He views the ocean not as something to protect, but as a resource to exploit—and anyone who stands in his way, including the protagonist, becomes collateral damage in his grand ambitions. His antagonism isn't born from villainy for its own sake, but from a genuine belief that he alone understands what's best for marine science and conservation, making him a complex threat.