Exploring themes of trauma and repair, love and betrayal, duty and free will, the series will sketch an intimate portrait of the Trask family against the backdrop of huge historical forces - or, as Steinbeck put it, "the story of my country and the story of me."
Zoe Kazan developed the series and will serve as co-showrunner alongside Jeb Stuart. They will executive produce with Antoine Douiahy, Zack Hayden and directors Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre. Anonymous Content and Fifth Season.
Notably, Kazan has a familial connection to the property. The novel published in 1952 was later adapted into a feature film in 1955, which was directed by Zoe's grandfather, Elia Kazan, for Warner Bros.
"Zoe's thoughtful and artistic vision pays homage to her grandfather's revered film adaptation while beautifully honoring and introducing new audiences to a true canon of American literature," said Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series, Netflix. "She is an inspiring, creative force and we cannot wait for everyone to see what she and Jeb, alongside the brilliant cast led by Florence Pugh, bring to screen."
"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," added Kazan. "But it is Steinbeck's writing - personal, shocking, profound and free - that has kept me enthralled to 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 and Anonymous Content for their support."
