Lauren Stienstra's "The Beauty of the End"

Lauren Stienstra is an American novelist who enjoys writing about the intersection of duty, science, and humanity. She believes that fiction can encourage readers to re-think their roles, responsibilities, and relationships in our own present world.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Stienstra now lives, works, and writes around Washington, D.C. She holds advanced degrees in science and public policy from the George Washington and Johns Hopkins universities, and trained in creative writing at UCLA.

Here Stienstra dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Beauty of the End:

Though it’s set against the backdrop of a species-ending catastrophe, at its core, The Beauty of the End is about the tension and contradiction between opposites: life and death, right and wrong, betrayal and justice, personal choice and collective duty—one cannot exist without the other.

The theme duality is also set up in the dynamic of the main characters, a set of genetically-identical-but-entirely-different twin sisters: Charlie and Maggie. Off the page, Charlie and Maggie are born to a Marshallese family and later adopted out to an unsuspecting white family in Pennsylvania via fraudulent proceedings. (This is based on a real life tragedy.) For the role, it would be important to me to cast someone with Pacific Island heritage, and Keisha Castle-Hughes quickly comes to mind. Not only does she have Māori heritage, she also has experience playing a twin—a major feature of her Oscar-winning film Whale Rider.

There is of course a bit of a love triangle in the story, with a male character named Nolan. One of Nolan’s most salient features is his blaze of red hair, and who better to play that kind of role than someone who literally embodies that characteristic: Eddie Redmayne (a younger version of him, perhaps.) I was first captivated by his performance in Starz’s Pillars of the Earth, an adaptation of Ken Follett’s novel, where he proved his ability to bring literary characters to life.

Another pivotal male role is Theo, Charlie’s professional assistant and personal confidant. Described as Korean-American, Theo’s casting presents an opportunity to draw from the immense talent in the K-Drama and Korean film industry. Gong Yoo was mesmerizing in Squid Game, but Hyun Bin would also be a strong contender, bringing both depth and international appeal to the film.

There are a few important supporting actors that are also worth mentioning:

Aunt Frankie, a reformed drug addict, could be a natural fit for Kirsten Dunst, who has spoken openly about her journey through treatment and recovery.

Dr. Carmichael’s character was inspired by the slippery and enigmatic Horace Slughorn of the Harry Potter series, making Jim Broadbent an ideal choice.

Fiery, fearless, and flawed, Dr. Fontanez demands an actress who can effortlessly combine grace, presence, and intensity—Salma Hayek comes immediately to mind.

Finally, my tweenager daughter insists that her favorite actress, Cynthia Erivo, be part of the cast. The only role weighty enough for her immense talent is Dr. Byrne, the formidable head of the government agency in charge of addressing the crisis—though, unfortunately, it’s a relatively small part.

Visit Lauren Stienstra's website.

--Marshal Zeringue