Two years ago, we shared the news that Florence Pugh had signed on to star in a new adaptation of East Of Eden, John Steinbeck's 1952 literary masterpiece. Since the project—a seven-part Netflix limited series penned by Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick)—was initially announced, Christopher Abbott has joined the cast, and Pugh's star has continued to shine with standout performances in films like The Wonder, Oppenheimer, and Dune: Part Two. Now, we have an exhilarating new casting update for the series as Netflix has officially given the green light to the project. According to Deadline, Mike Faist, known for his role in Challengers, is set to play Cal Trask, the character famously portrayed by James Dean in Elia Kazan's 1955 film, in this fresh adaptation.
Garth Davis, director of Lion, and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, known for Lady Chatterley's Lover, are both on board to direct episodes of the new series. Similar to Steinbeck's novel and Elia Kazan's film, the series will delve into the struggles of the Trask family against the backdrop of a rapidly changing mid-20th century America. Faist and Abbott will portray the rival brothers Cal and Adam, while Pugh will take on the role of Cathy Ames, the woman at the heart of the Trask brothers' feud. Hoon Lee, star of Warrior, is also set to appear in the show, though his role remains undisclosed.
In a statement released alongside the series' greenlight, Zoe Kazan—whose deep connection to the material is personal (Elia Kazan is her grandfather)—reflected on the project's personal significance and the enduring power of Steinbeck's book. "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 captivated by 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."
There is no official release date for East Of Eden yet, but in the meantime, fans can look forward to seeing Christopher Abbott in Leigh Whannell's "straight-up, pure horror" Wolf Man in January, and Florence Pugh in the upcoming Andrew Garfield co-starrer We Live In Time. As for Mike Faist, he can enjoy a well-deserved break before diving into this new role. Alexa, play 'Challengers: Match Point'.
