Florence Pugh is heading to the sofa on The Graham Norton Show tonight, where she will discuss her highly anticipated new drama East of Eden. Here’s everything you need to know about it…
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The actress leads the seven-part adaptation of John Steinbeck’s celebrated 1952 novel, taking on one of the most challenging roles of her career as Cathy Ames.
With the series arriving on Netflix next week, here’s everything you need to know about East of Eden, including its release date, episode count, cast, story and where you can watch it.
Where to watch East Of Eden?
East of Eden premieres globally on Netflix on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
All seven episodes of the limited series will be released at the same time, meaning viewers won’t have to wait week-to-week to see how the story unfolds. Netflix has confirmed the complete seven-episode series will be available to stream worldwide from October 1.
The series is rated TV-MA in the U.S. and is listed by Netflix as a drama, period piece and series based on a book.
Where can you watch East of Eden?
East of Eden is a Netflix exclusive, so the series will be available to stream through Netflix when it launches on October 1.
Unlike some new dramas that debut with one or two episodes before moving to a weekly schedule, Netflix is releasing all seven episodes at once.
That makes the series particularly well suited to a binge-watch, although viewers can of course spread the episodes out over several days.
What is East of Eden about?
Adapted by Zoe Kazan from Steinbeck’s classic novel, East of Eden follows Cathy Ames, played by Florence Pugh, and her complicated relationship with the Trask family across generations.
The story is set in California in the early 20th century and explores the lives of the Trasks and their connections to the Hamilton family. At its heart is the turbulent relationship between brothers Adam Trask and Charles Trask, played by Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist respectively.
Cathy becomes deeply intertwined with both men as the series explores family, identity, morality and the consequences of choices passed from one generation to the next.
Netflix describes the story as beginning with a fiercely independent woman whose presence drives a rift between two brothers, setting off a saga that stretches across two generations.
Kazan’s adaptation also takes a broader view of Steinbeck’s story, spanning decades and connecting Cathy and the Trask family with figures including Samuel Hamilton and Lee.
The story is framed by major periods in American history, beginning around the aftermath of the Civil War and continuing towards the First World War.
Who does Florence Pugh play in East of Eden?
Florence Pugh plays Cathy Ames, the central character at the heart of the series.
Cathy is one of the most complex figures in Steinbeck’s novel, and Kazan’s adaptation puts her story firmly in the foreground.
Rather than simply focusing on the rivalry between Adam and Charles, the Netflix series gives Cathy a much larger role in the family saga, exploring her motivations and the relationships that shape her life.
Pugh’s casting has been a major talking point surrounding the series, with Kazan previously explaining that she specifically wanted the Midsommar, Little Women and We Live in Time star for the part. Netflix describes Cathy as the series’ antihero, whose life becomes intertwined with generations of the Trask family.
Pugh will also be discussing the project as she appears on The Graham Norton Show tonight, Friday, September 25. The BBC show returns for its 34th series tonight at 10:40pm on BBC One.
East of Eden cast: Who stars alongside Florence Pugh?
The Netflix adaptation features a substantial ensemble cast alongside Pugh.
The main East of Eden cast includes:
- Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
- Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask
- Mike Faist as Charles Trask
- Hoon Lee as Lee
- Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask
- Martha Plimpton as Faye
- Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton
- Joseph Zada as Cal Trask
- Joe Anders as Aron Trask
Netflix’s cast list confirms the ensemble, bringing together performers from film, television and theatre for the sprawling family drama.
Christopher Abbott plays Adam Trask, while Mike Faist takes on his brother Charles. Hoon Lee plays Lee, Tracy Letts portrays Cyrus Trask and Martha Plimpton appears as Faye.
Ciarán Hinds plays Samuel Hamilton, while Joseph Zada and Joe Anders portray the younger Trask generation as Cal and Aron.
Who directed East of Eden?
The seven episodes were split between two directors.
Garth Davis, whose previous credits include Lion and Mary Magdalene, directed the first four episodes.
Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, known for The Mustang, Lady Chatterley’s Lover and The Act, directed episodes five through seven.
Zoe Kazan wrote all seven episodes and serves as executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Jeb Stuart.
Kazan has described the project as an opportunity to explore Steinbeck’s story on an epic scale while maintaining an intimate focus on the characters and their relationships.
How many episodes of East of Eden are there?
There are seven episodes in total.
The series is being released as a limited series, with all seven episodes arriving on Netflix globally on October 1, 2026.
That means viewers can watch the entire story from beginning to end on release day rather than waiting for a new episode every week.
Is East of Eden based on a true story?
No. East of Eden is a fictional story adapted from John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel of the same name.
However, the book has a strong autobiographical connection to Steinbeck. The Hamilton family in the story was inspired in part by Steinbeck’s own family, and the novel explores themes connected to his personal history and his relationship with the Salinas Valley in California.
Kazan’s adaptation retains that connection while expanding the story for television and giving greater prominence to Cathy.
What is East of Eden really about?
Beyond the family drama, East of Eden is concerned with questions about good and evil, free will, family inheritance and whether people are destined to repeat the mistakes of those who came before them.
Those ideas are particularly important to the relationship between Cathy and the Trask family.
The series spans generations, examining what parents pass on to their children and whether the next generation can escape the patterns established by the previous one.
That makes East of Eden considerably more than a conventional period drama. Its story combines romance, family conflict and moral questions against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America.
When is Florence Pugh on The Graham Norton Show?
Florence Pugh appears on The Graham Norton Show tonight, Friday, September 25, 2026, as the BBC chat show returns for its new series.
The programme begins at 10:40pm on BBC One.
Her appearance comes just days before East of Eden arrives on Netflix, making it a timely opportunity for viewers to hear more about her portrayal of Cathy Ames and the ambitious new adaptation.
East of Eden release date at a glance
Title: East of Eden
Platform: Netflix
Release date: October 1, 2026
Episodes: 7
Format: Limited series
Creator: Zoe Kazan
Lead: Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
Based on: John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden
Episode directors: Garth Davis (1–4), Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (5–7)
With all seven episodes arriving simultaneously, East of Eden will be one of Netflix’s major new drama releases this October — and Florence Pugh’s appearance on The Graham Norton Show tonight provides an early chance for fans to hear more about the role before the full series lands.
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