Netflix Greenlights ‘East of Eden’ Series Starring Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee
Netflix has ordered the limited series adaptation of “East of Eden” from writer Zoe Kazan, Variety has learned.
The series was originally reported to be in development at the streamer in June 2022 with Florence Pugh attached to star as Cathy. Now, Christopher Abbott is set to play Adam, with Mike Faist as Charles and Hoon Lee as Lee. Netflix has ordered seven episodes.
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Based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name, the series is said to “explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible antihero, Cathy Ames.”
In addition to writing, Kazan serves as executive producer and co-showrunner. Her grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the original film adaptation starring James Dean. Jeb Stuart has joined the project as co-showrunner and executive producer as well. Garth Davis will direct the first four episodes and serve as an executive producer. Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre will executive produce and direct episodes five through seven. Antoine Douiahy and Zack Hayden also executive produce. Fifth Season and Anonymous Content will co-produce.
“Zoe’s thoughtful and artistic vision pays homage to her grandfather’s revered film adaptation while beautifully honoring and introducing new audiences to a true canon of American literature,” said Peter Friedlander, vice president of scripted series (US & Canada) for Netflix. “She is an inspiring, creative force and we can not wait for everyone to see what she and Jeb, alongside the brilliant cast led by Florence Pugh, bring to screen.”
“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,” Kazan added. “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.”
Pugh’s recent credits include “We Live in Time,” “Dune 2,” and “Oppenheimer.” She will next be seen in the Marvel film “Thunderbolts,” reprising her role as Yelena Belova from “Black Widow” and the “Hawkeye” TV series. She is also known for films like “Little Women,” “Fighting with My Family” and “Midsommar.”
She is repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
Abbott’s past TV credits include “Catch-22,” “The Crowded Room,” “The Sinner,” and “Entergalactic.” His work in “Catch-22” earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 2020. In film, he is known for “Poor Things,” “First Man,” and “It Comes at Night.” He is also set to star in Sony’s “Kraven the Hunter” as well as the Blumhouse-Universal reboot of “The Wolf Man.”
He is repped by WME, Entertainment 360, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
Faist recently starred in the film “Challengers” alongside Zendaya and Josh O’Connor as well the Jeff Nichols film “The Bikeriders.” Prior to that, he played Riff in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story film.”
He is repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Jackoway Austen
Lee is known for his role in shows like “Warrior” and “Banshee” at Cinemax. He has also appeared in shows like “See” at Apple TV+, “DMZ” at Max, and “Bosch” at Amazon. He was recently cast in the Apple TV+ series “Your Friends and Neighbors.”
He is repped by Peikoff Mahan. Kazan is repped by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Stuart is repped by UTA, Kaplan Perrone, and Hansen Jacobson. Clermont-Tonnerre is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Douiahy is repped by CAA. Davis is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
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