Golden Globe nominee Christopher Abbott has entered negotiations to join the East of Eden cast for Netflix‘s long-in-development TV adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic 1952 novel. Should his deal pushes through, Abbott would be playing the role of Adam Trask.
Abbott is best known for his acclaimed performances in TV shows like Girls and Catch-22. His most recent TV credit was last year’s Apple TV+ miniseries The Crowded Room, with Amanda Seyfried and Tom Holland. He is currently attached to star in a few high-profile movies, including Sony Pictures’ Kraven the Hunter and Universal Pictures’ Wolf Man remake.
Who will lead the East of Eden cast?
The East of Eden cast will be led by Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, who has been attached to lead the project since 2022. In addition, Pugh will also serve as a co-producer. This marks Pugh’s first major TV project as the lead in a long while, after starring 2018’s The Little Drummer Girl miniseries. Before East of Eden, she will next be seen in the romantic comedy drama film We Live in Time with Andrew Garfield, and in Marvel Studios‘ Thunderbolts* movie.
The series adaptation is being written and executive produced by The Big Sick actress Zoe Kazan, whose grandfather Elia Kazan directed James Dean in the novel’s first film adaptation in 1955. It is a production by Anonymous Content and Fifth Season.
The story follows the interconnected stories of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. According to Deadline, the miniseries will explore “the novel’s themes of trauma and repair; love and betrayal; duty and free will. It will sketch an intimate portrait of the Trask family against the backdrop of huge historical forces — or, as Steinbeck put it, ‘the story of my country and the story of me.’”
