Florence Pugh stars as Cathy Ames in Netflix's seven-episode East of Eden limited series, premiering October 1, 2026. All episodes drop at once — ready to binge.
The series adapts John Steinbeck's 1952 novel East of Eden, spanning the multigenerational saga of the Trask family from the Civil War to World War I.
Netflix describes Cathy as an antihero. Pugh calls her one of the most complex female characters in literature — and the engine of this version of the story.
Pugh plays Cathy Ames and also executive produces the series. She fronted Vanity Fair's October 2026 cover for the premiere season.
Christopher Abbott plays Adam Trask, one of the two brothers whose bond is tested by Cathy's arrival at the family farm.
Mike Faist plays Charles Trask, Adam's brother. Cathy's presence drives a rift between the siblings that sets the saga in motion.
Hoon Lee plays Lee, with Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask, Martha Plimpton as Faye, Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton, Joseph Zada as Cal, and Joe Anders as Aron.
Zoe Kazan wrote all seven episodes and co-runs the show with Jeb Stuart. She spent six years on the series — and thought about the book for 20 years before that.
Kazan's grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the acclaimed 1955 film adaptation starring James Dean — she told W Magazine it felt like returning the book to the library.
Garth Davis directed the first four episodes and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed the final three. The series was filmed across multiple locations in New Zealand.
Gold Derby suggests the series' scale could make it a contender in the Golden Globes and SAG Awards warm-up laps ahead of the 2027 Emmy race.
Beyond East of Eden, Pugh stars in two December blockbusters: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three.