The East of Eden miniseries puts Florence Pugh at the center of John Steinbeck’s classic as Cathy Ames, one of American literature’s most notorious villains. All seven episodes of the limited series arrived on Netflix on Oct. 1, 2026, according to Netflix.
Zoe Kazan, the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 film adaptation, wrote the series and serves as co-showrunner alongside Jeb Stuart, per Wikipedia. Garth Davis directed the first four episodes, and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed the final three. Davis previously directed “Lion,” while de Clermont-Tonnerre made “The Mustang.”
What the East of Eden miniseries covers
Steinbeck’s 1952 novel follows the Trask and Hamilton families across generations. Netflix describes the story as a multigenerational saga set in California and bookended by the American Civil War and World War I, in which an independent woman creates conflict between two brothers.
The scope is wider than the 1955 film, which starred James Dean and adapted only part of the novel. Jo Van Fleet won an Oscar for playing the character known in the film as Kate. The miniseries gives the story seven episodes to spread out, and Kazan has said she has loved Steinbeck’s writing since childhood, calling it “personal, shocking, profound, and free.”
How the East of Eden miniseries compares with past versions
The new East of Eden miniseries is not the first television take on the book. ABC aired a three-part miniseries over four nights in February 1981, with Jane Seymour as Cathy. That production won two Golden Globes, including best actress for Seymour, according to Wikipedia.
That history raises the bar for Pugh and Kazan. Cathy is among the most discussed roles in American literature, and both earlier versions earned awards attention for the actress who played her. Netflix’s East of Eden miniseries now invites viewers to compare three generations of screen adaptations.
Cast and crew of the East of Eden miniseries
Pugh, an Oscar nominee for 2019’s “Little Women,” plays Cathy. Christopher Abbott stars as Adam Trask, and Mike Faist plays his brother, Charles. Hoon Lee appears as Lee, and Ciarán Hinds plays Samuel Hamilton. Her recent film credits include “Midsommar,” “Black Widow” and “Oppenheimer,” and Faist is known for “West Side Story” and “Challengers.”
The cast also includes Joseph Zada as Cal Trask, Joe Anders as Aron Trask, Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask and Martha Plimpton as Faye, according to Wikipedia. Production filmed in New Zealand from October 2024 to March 2025, with locations including Auckland, Dunedin and Oamaru.
What critics are saying about Pugh
Early reviews have focused on Pugh. The Hollywood Reporter called her “terrifying” in the headline of its review and described Kazan’s work as an “accomplished” adaptation of the classic.
The series also leans into the book’s biblical roots. Steinbeck drew his title and the story of two rival brothers from the tale of Cain and Abel in Genesis, and Netflix says the show explores good versus evil and how family history shapes individual destinies.
If you are planning your viewing, see our Netflix October 2026 picks and our October 2026 streaming guide. Fans of book adaptations may also want to read about the Verity box office previews.
Where to watch
All seven episodes of the East of Eden miniseries are streaming now on Netflix. The streamer released them at once, at 12 a.m. PT on Oct. 1, so viewers can watch the full story in a single sitting or pace it out over several nights. Because Netflix has billed it as a limited series, the story is told in one season, with no second season announced.
Reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix and Wikipedia contributed to this story.
