Florence Pugh leads the cast in the latest Netflix period drama, East of Eden, adapting John Steinback’s magnum opus novel.
Lauded as one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, it’s a surprise that it’s taken so long for a streamer to tackle the epic story.
The novel was previously adapted for the screen in a 1955 movie starring James Dean. A Jennifer Lawrence-led remake has been stuck in development hell for the last decade.
Here’s all you need to know about East of Eden.
What is East of Eden about?
Set in California’s old west, East of Eden is a sprawling story of family, love and betrayal, taking place from 1874 to 1917 and bookended by the American Civil War and War World 1.
It follows the fate and fortunes of the Trask family across generations, as they adapt to life upon settling in the Salinas Valley amidst ever-changing times across industry and politics.
This fresh interpretation of Steinbeck’s novel focuses new attention on Pugh’s antihero, Cathy Ames. The series charts her arrival into the Trask family, before she tears the siblings apart and flees, finding a new life and name as she inherits a brothel and becomes Kate.
Unlike the Oscar-winning 1955 Elia Kazan movie, the Netflix series gives Cathy’s story more space to breathe, allowing viewers to get a more nuanced take on the character, fleshing out Cathy’s backstory and exploring the motivations behind her fatal actions.
East of Eden filming locations
California’s Salinas Valley serves as the main setting in East of Eden, with the drama also venturing to San Francisco, Connecticut, and Washington.
However, the series was filmed in its entirety in New Zealand, with the country’s historic city streets and vast rural landscapes doubling up as America’s old wild west.
New Zealand’s Oamaru is used as Connecticut
Ōamaru’s Historic Precinct was transformed into early 20th century California for exterior shots.
The town’s distinctive whitestone buildings provided a ready-made period setting, with many local residents joining the production as extras, with the men having to grow lengthy beards to match the style of the period.
Key locations include the facade of Smith’s Grain Store on Tyne Street, the exterior of the Criterion Hotel, and the Victorian-era Harbour Street, with buildings constructed circa 1875 that previously housed chemists, bakeries and breweries.
Live music venue, The Penguin Club, was used for interior shots doubling up as Cathy’s bar. The real venue’s name is a nod to the local colony of wild penguins that call Ōamaru home.
Dunedin stands in for California’s Salinas Valley
Cast and crew also spent time filming in central Dunedin, a city located in New Zealand’s South Island.
Queen’s Garden, the Victorian-era public park in the heart of Dunedin, was used as a period-accurate backdrop for the promenade as well as general exterior scenes.
The Dunedin Railway Station was also used as a background location, with the Flemish Renaissance building cited as one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand with its ornate stone facade, idyllic gardens and interior mosaic floors.
Outside of the city, Dunedin’s surrounding hinterlands provided landscape shots, replicating the vast open spaces of California.
Who is in the East of Eden cast?
Florence Pugh leads the cast as Cathy Ames, with Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) as her estranged husband, Adam Trask.
Mike Faist (Challengers) stars as Charles Trask, Adam’s brother who becomes between his sibling and Cathy, with devastating repercussions.
Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones) appears as Samuel Hamilton, an Irishman who moved to California to raise a family and work the land. Hoon Lee (Marvel’s Iron Fist) is Lee, who works for the Trask family. Martha Plimpton (The Goonies) stars as Faye, the owner of a local brothel who takes a young Cathy under her wing.
When is East of Eden available to stream?
All seven episodes of East of Eden are now streaming on Netflix.
Take a look at the trailer below for a taste of the drama.
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