Black Widow" star Florence Pugh will play in the film adaptation of the novel "East of Eden".

Netflix is developing a film adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel "East of Eden," with Zoe Kazan ("Ruby Sparks") serving as writer and executive producer and Florence Pugh ("Black Widow") in the title role.
Netflix is refraining from comment, but sources told Deadline that the series is still in the early stages of development and that the rights have been acquired in a fiercely competitive battle. Anonymous Content and Endeavor Content will co-produce it.
Steinbeck's most famous novel, the 1952 edition, was adapted by Warner Bros. Studios three years after its release. Zoe Kazan's grandfather, Elia Kazan, served as director, with James Dean playing his first leading role in the film. The drama "East of Heaven" received four Oscar nominations, winning one.
The upcoming limited-episode series will explore the novel's themes: trauma and recovery; love and betrayal; duty and free will. The plot centers on the complicated relationship in the Trask family. Pugh will play the main antagonist, Kathy Ames, whose charming appearance, in Steinbeck's own words, hides a "mental monster." Casting for the roles of the Trask family members is still to come.