Florence Pugh to star in new Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck novel ‘East of Eden’
John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is considered his magnum opus, and when Zoe Kazan took on the project to create a contemporary adaptation, the familial similarities were not lost. Despite news of a forthcoming re-imagination being confirmed almost two years ago, the streamer has just revealed Florence Pugh will be heading up the cast.
Pugh’s name has been attached to the project since the news of its existence emerged. Many regarded her as the perfect Cathy Ames, and it’s easy to see why. Coming off the back of successes such as Midsommar, Oppenheimer, Little Women, and Don’t Worry Darling, Pugh is the ideal candidate to bring Steinbeck’s vampy femme fatale to life on screen.
Alongside Pugh, the cast will also boast Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, and Hoon Lee. The show will run for a limited seven episodes, with Kazan serving as executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Jeb Stuart. The first adaptation of East of Eden was a 1955 movie directed by Kazan’s grandfather and starring James Dean in his first lead role.
Working on the project has urged Kazan to reflect on her own family dynamics while noticing the stark similarities. “The resonance of my own familial connection to the material has not been lost on me,” Kazan said in a statement. However, Steinbeck’s writing, “personal, shocking, profound, and free,” is what has kept her “enthralled” to work on such a personally meaningful project.
Furthermore, it has also enabled Kazan to pay homage to Elia Kazan‘s original adaptation while infusing a nostalgic classic with a modern update. As Peter Friedlander, vice president of scripted series in the US and Canada for Netflix, said, “Zoe’s thoughtful and artistic vision pays homage to her grandfather’s revered film adaptation while beautifully honouring and introducing new audiences to a true canon of American literature.”
The new series will explore the transgenerational antics of the Trask family while focusing attention on Cathy Ames, according to the description. With Pugh centre stage, there’s no doubt she will inject her signature charm and elegance into the conniving antihero, giving her the contemporary twist needed to resonate with modern audiences.
Although Pugh has shone in previous roles which concern familial and relationship toxicity and entanglement, stepping into the shoes of a character Steinbeck once regarded as a “psychic monster” with a “malformed soul” will likely accrue yet another accreditation instating her position as one of modern today’s best film and television actors.