East of Eden limited series begins production as ensemble cast expands

East of Eden limited series begins production as ensemble cast expands

As a seasoned gamer of life and pop culture, I can confidently say that the upcoming Netflix limited series “East of Eden” is shaping up to be a game-changer. With Florence Pugh leading an all-star cast in this modern adaptation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece, it’s like hitting the jackpot in a role-playing game.


Despite already having a significant presence on Netflix, with roles in original films such as “Outlaw King”, “Malevolent”, and “The Wonder”, Academy Award-nominated actress Florence Pugh has yet to take on her most prominent Netflix role. This is set to change as she will star in the lead role for Netflix’s upcoming limited series “East of Eden”, based on the novel by John Steinbeck.

Initially, Pugh developed interest in the project when Deadline disclosed it back in June 2022. However, Netflix confirmed the limited series in September 2024 and assigned it a go-ahead. Apart from Pugh, the principal cast members revealed at that time were Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, and Hoon Lee.

On October 21st, I was thrilled to learn that Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, Ciarán Hinds, Joseph Zada, and Joe Anders had joined the cast of East of Eden. With this talented ensemble assembled, it seems production on the seven-episode series has officially kicked off in New Zealand. This news might be why Andrew Garfield walked the London premiere of We Live in Time with a cardboard cutout of Florence Pugh instead of her by his side!

Here’s the full East of Eden limited series cast so far:

  • Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
  • Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask
  • Mike Faist as Charles Trask
  • Hoon Lee as Lee
  • Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask
  • Martha Plimpton as Faye
  • Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton
  • Joseph Zada as Cal Trask
  • Joe Anders as Aron Trask

Everything to know about Netflix’s East of Eden limited series

The limited series version of Netflix’s “East of Eden” is brought to us by executive producer, co-showrunner, and writer Zoe Kazan. Notably, her grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the 1955 movie adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel, featuring James Dean and earning four Academy Award nominations. This project represents a significant milestone for the Kazan family in filmmaking.

Once Netflix formally commissioned the series, Kazan expressed a heartfelt statement highlighting her unique “family tie” to the narrative.

In the process of bringing this family saga to life, the resonance of my own familial connection to the material has not been lost on me. But it is Steinbeck’s writing — personal, shocking, profound and free — that has kept me enthralled to East of Eden since I first read the book as a young teen. Working on this has been the greatest joy, and I am thrilled by the cast and crew we are assembling – and deeply grateful to Netflix, Fifth Season & Anonymous Content for their support.

Zoe Kazan, writer/executive producer

Previously discussed, the series “East of Eden” consists of seven episodes and is set to be filmed across diverse locations in New Zealand, as reported by Deadline. Pugh serves as both an actor and executive producer for this series, collaborating with Jeb Stuart who co-manages alongside Kazan. The initial four episodes will be directed by Garth Davis, director of “Foe”, while the remaining three episodes will be overseen by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, known for directing the Netflix adaptation of “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”. Both directors are also credited as executive producers.

Based on Netflix’s summary for their limited series adaptation, this modern take on Steinbeck’s classic novel, East of Eden, will deviate from its traditional period setting. Additionally, director Elia Kazan’s reinterpretation appears to center Cathy Ames as a powerful, unforgettable anti-heroine, as suggested by Florence Pugh’s casting in the main role. This adaptation has generated a lot of interest and is expected to be one of Netflix’s most eagerly awaited releases.

Take a closer look at Netflix’s logline for the limited series:

This modern interpretation of Steinbeck’s masterpiece will explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible antihero, Cathy Ames.

The filming for “East of Eden” started in October 2024 and is expected to continue until at least the end of 2024, with a possibility that it may extend into 2025. After production concludes, post-production work such as editing, dubbing, and other enhancements will follow. This stage can take anywhere from six months to more than that. As a result, we anticipate the release of “East of Eden” sometime before the end of 2025, making it a strong candidate for awards consideration during the upcoming season. We’ll provide updates as Netflix announces new information.

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2024-10-22 00:03