Getting to Know the Cast Bringing Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’ to the Screen (With Pictures)

Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’ has assembled one of the more closely watched ensembles of the fall season. The series is adapted by Zoe Kazan, whose grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 film adaptation of the novel starring James Dean. According to Netflix’s official announcement, the story stretches across decades, beginning after the American Civil War and continuing into the opening years of World War I, and the seven episode series arrives on Netflix on October 1.

Every name attached to this ‘East of Eden’ cast carries its own background, from Oscar nominated leads to performers taking on roles that were reshaped specifically for this new version. Below is a rundown of the actors bringing Steinbeck’s Trask and Hamilton families to the screen, along with the parts each one plays.

Florence Pugh

Oscar nominee Florence Pugh leads the show as Cathy Ames. Zoe Kazan, who serves as co showrunner, writer, and executive producer on the series, told Netflix that finding the right Cathy was paramount to the project’s success. Pugh is also attached to co-produce the series alongside starring in it.

Kazan has been direct about why Pugh was chosen for the part. “I didn’t have another person that I thought would be just as good,” Kazan said, adding that Pugh “is the exact right person to play Cathy.”

Christopher Abbott

Christopher Abbott plays Adam Trask, the husband of Cathy in the story. Kazan has said that when casting Cal and Aron, she had actors read both parts because it was important that the choice between the brothers could have gone either way, a philosophy that also shaped how Adam and Charles were cast.

Mike Faist

Mike Faist plays Charles Trask, Adam’s half-brother. Faist has spoken about what drew him to the part in an interview with TV Insider, where he said one thing he appreciated about the adaptation is that it allows the relationships to breathe, giving the series time to sit inside the emotional landscapes of the novel.

Joseph Zada

Joseph Zada plays Cal Trask, one half of the twin sons born to Cathy and Adam. Zada previously appeared in ‘We Were Liars’ before landing the role.

Joe Anders

Joe Anders plays Aron Trask, Cal’s twin brother, in the series. Anders is the son of Kate Winslet and director Sam Mendes.

Hoon Lee

Hoon Lee plays Lee in the adaptation. Kazan worked closely with writer Alexander Chee to update the character for the series, and Lee is given the spotlight in an episode written by Chee. Hoon Lee was most recently seen in Apple TV’s ‘Your Friends and Neighbors.’

Tracy Letts

Tracy Letts joins the cast as Cyrus Trask. He is listed among the principal cast confirmed for the limited series.

Martha Plimpton

Martha Plimpton plays Faye in the series. She rounds out an ensemble that Netflix has confirmed for the seven episode adaptation.

Ciarán Hinds

Ciarán Hinds plays Samuel Hamilton. His casting was confirmed alongside the rest of the principal cast ahead of the series premiere.

The series was filmed in New Zealand, including South Island locations Dunedin and Oamaru, standing in for Steinbeck’s Salinas Valley. Kazan has also confirmed that much of the Hamilton family’s material was trimmed from the scripts so that Cathy could function as the adaptation’s central dramatic force. With this ensemble now fully revealed ahead of the October 1 premiere, it is worth asking which member of the Trask or Hamilton family readers of Steinbeck’s novel are most curious to see reinterpreted on screen.