WEEK IN WOMEN: Zoe Kazan/Florence Pugh land EAST OF EDEN at Netflix – Brandy McDonnell reports
Zoe Kazan’s seven-episode limited series adaptation of East of Eden hits Netflix on October 1. Kazan’s modern interpretation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 Nobel Prize-winning novel explores the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible, enigmatic antihero, Cathy Ames, played in the series by Florence Pugh (We Live in Time, Dune 2, Oppenheimer, Little Women) who also executive produced the series.
Set among the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, Steinbeck’s epic novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families — the Trasks and the Hamiltons — whose generations reenact the biblical fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.
A writer, producer and Primetime Emmy-nominated actor, Kazan (Olive Kitteridge, The Big Sick, The Plot Against America, The Deuce) has deep family ties to East of Eden: Her grandfather, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront), directed the 1955 film adaptation of the novel. His acclaimed film stars James Dean and earned Jo Van Fleet a best supporting actress Oscar for her turn as Cathy.
The daughter of screenwriters Nicholas Kazan (Reversal of Fortune) and Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), both Oscar nominees, Zoe Kazan wrote and executive produced all seven episodes of the new series, serving as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Jeb Stuart (Liberator, Vikings: Valhalla, The Fugitive). Her other screenwriting credits include the independent films Ruby Sparks and Wildlife.
“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. She is an inspiring, creative force and we can not wait for everyone to see what she and Jeb, alongside the brilliant cast led by Florence Pugh, bring to screen,” said Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s vice president of scripted series for U.S. and Canada in a statement.
With Pugh as the lead, it sounds like Zoe Kazan’s limited series adaptation of East of Eden will center Cathy more as a main character rather than in a supporting role. Continue reading on THE WEEK IN WOMEN
