East of Eden creator on changing Steinbeck’s novel for Netflix
The Independent • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The new TV adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, written by Zoe Kazan, condenses the novel’s decades-spanning story into seven episodes, leading to the omission of significant parts, particularly the Hamilton family’s storyline, which Kazan found heartbreaking to leave out.
- The series centers on the Trask brothers, Adam and Charles, and the mysterious Cathy, with notable performances by Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, and Florence Pugh.
- The Hamilton family patriarch, Samuel, played by Ciarán Hinds, appears in the show, though the family’s full narrative is largely absent due to time constraints.
- The series includes the character Lee, a key figure in the novel and absent from the 1955 film adaptation, portrayed by Hoon Lee, with casting praised by both Kazan and Pugh.
- The adaptation has boosted sales of Steinbeck’s novel by 250%, and Kazan expressed satisfaction that the series encourages viewers to read the book, respecting fans' love for the original work.
