Florence Pugh to Star in East of Eden Netflix Limited Series From Zoe Kazan

Posted by Jenniffer Sheldon on Saturday, May 18, 2024

Netflix is developing a new limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” Variety has confirmed.

The series, which is still in early development, will be written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan, whose grandfather, Elia Kazan, helmed the 1955 film adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel. Florence Pugh is attached to star in the series, though the character she will play remains unconfirmed. Anonymous Content and Endeavor Content will co-produce the series.

Published in 1952, Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” is set in California’s Salinas Valley over a period that stretches from the Civil War to the end of World War I. The epic novel tells the interconnected stories of the Hamilton family, an Irish immigrant family with nine children, and the Trask family, lead by the wealthy Adam Trask. The story eventually narrows its focus to center around the Trask family and the drama surrounding Adam, his wife Cathy and their sons Cal and Aron.

Elia Kazan’s film adaptation only partially adapted the original novel, focusing on the final section of the book with Cal and Aron as teenagers. The film is best known for starring James Dean in his first leading role as Cal, with Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Richard Davalos and Jo Van Fleet. The film was well-received critically and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best picture, with Fleet winning best supporting actress for her role as Cathy. The novel was also adapted into a three-part ABC miniseries in 1981, which was directed by Richard Alan Shapiro from a script by Harvey Hart, with Timothy Bottoms, Jane Seymour, Bruce Boxleitner, Soon Tek-Oh, Sam Bottoms, Hart Bochner, Karen Allen and Lloyd Bridges starring.

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Kazan is repped by UTA. Pugh is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. The works of John Steinbeck are represented by WME and McIntosh & Otis.

Deadline first reported the news of the series.

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