East of Eden: Release date news, cast, streaming details and more about the upcoming Netflix series

The book, East of Eden, is the masterpiece of John Steinbeck and was published in 1952.

It is a large-scale and everlasting fiction that is now being reinterpreted as a limited series on Netflix.

The streaming service has already announced that the new adaptation of East of Eden will cater to modern-day viewers, which surely indicates that the exposition of the tale will not be the same as before through the earlier renditions.

East of Eden is reported to be released sometime in early 2026, according to What's On Netflix.

Keep reading for more details.

What is East of Eden about?

East of Eden is primarily a multi-generational tale set in the Salinas Valley of California. The plot presents the Trask and Hamilton families whose lives are closely knit together and at the same time spinning around the different periods, touching the subjects of good and bad, free will, the impact of the past, and moral accountability.

The title of the book refers to the biblical tale of Cain and Abel that, in a way, parallels the story throughout the novel. East of Eden, Netflix’s miniseries, is not based solely on a storyline or character arc but rather on the writer’s text.

The limited series format is a thing that will benefit East of Eden in its development of relationships and conflicts over an extended time span, which, unfortunately, was not possible for the previous movie adaptations.

East of Eden Netflix release date

Currently, there is no announcement regarding the release date of the series by Netflix. It is speculated that the series will be released in early 2026 based on the production schedules.

The filming of the show started in 2024 and was finished by March 2025. With Netflix's post-production timetables for the limited series, early 2026 is just the right time if the confirmed production is taken into consideration.

Confirmed cast of East of Eden

Netflix has not only confirmed but also announced the cast for East of Eden, indicating that the adaptation would be even more extensive than the original novel’s range. The confirmed cast includes:

Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
Christopher Abbott
Mike Faist
Hoon Lee
Tracy Letts
Martha Plimpton
Ciarán Hinds
Joseph Zada
Joe Anders

Florence Pugh has been cast as Cathy Ames, the very heart of East of Eden. Cathy is one of the most challenging characters in Steinbeck’s world, and her very character influences the emotional curve of the plot through the end.

The remaining actors play the essential roles of characters from both the Trask and Hamilton families, thus strengthening the inter-generational structure of the series.

Creative team behind East of Eden

Zoe Kazan, the writer and executive producer of the East of Eden Netflix series, is also the co-showrunner. Her participation has a significant historical connection since she is the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, the director of the 1955 East of Eden film adaptation, and thus the director of the famous film adaptation.

Netflix has announced that East of Eden will be made up of a total of seven episodes. The direction is to be shared by Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, both of whom are recognized for their storytelling skills more than for their large-scale spectacles.

Where was East of Eden filmed?

East of Eden filming was done predominantly in New Zealand, which is a stand-in for the Salinas Valley in California. The shooting started in 2024 and finished in March 2025.

The pretty locations of New Zealand have frequently been employed for period dramas and literary adaptations, thereby giving the creatives a plethora of historical backgrounds to choose from. On the other hand, Netflix has not revealed any official pictures or videos from the filming process so far.

Where to watch East of Eden

East of Eden will only be available on Netflix streaming as it is a Netflix original, and it will be available to global subscribers, subject to geographical limitations and language options.

There has not been any hint of theatrical distribution or other streaming avenues. Netflix will be the only distributor throughout.