TV · Cast & characters
East of Eden Netflix Cast and Characters (2026 Limited Series)
Netflix's East of Eden (2026) stars Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames, Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask, Mike Faist as Charles Trask and Hoon Lee as Lee, with Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton. Joseph Zada and Joe Anders play the twins Cal and Aron, Tracy Letts plays Cyrus Trask and Martha Plimpton plays Faye. Zoe Kazan created the seven-episode limited series, which has been streaming on Netflix since October 1, 2026. Below: every main and recurring actor, the younger versions of each character, and the people behind the camera.
Main cast
| Actor | Character | Who they are | You may know them from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Pugh | Cathy Ames | The woman at the centre of the story; Pugh is also an executive producer | Little Women, Midsommar, Oppenheimer, Thunderbolts* |
| Christopher Abbott | Adam Trask | Army veteran who marries Cathy and moves to California | Girls, Possessor, It Comes at Night |
| Mike Faist | Charles Trask | Adam's half-brother, who stays on the Connecticut farm | West Side Story, Challengers, The Bikeriders |
| Hoon Lee | Lee | Adam's cook and servant, who helps raise the twins | Warrior, Banshee, Bosch |
| Ciarán Hinds | Samuel Hamilton | Adam's neighbour, a well-digger and storyteller | Belfast, Game of Thrones, The Terror |
| Joseph Zada | Cal Trask | Adam's restless son | We Were Liars, Invisible Boys |
| Joe Anders | Aron Trask | Cal's gentler twin | 1917, Lee |
| Tracy Letts | Cyrus Trask | Adam and Charles's harsh father | Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari, Little Women |
| Martha Plimpton | Faye | Madam of a Salinas brothel | The Goonies, Raising Hope, The Good Wife |
Younger versions of the characters
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Vaughan Reilly | Teenage Cathy |
| Asher Whitehead | Young Adam |
| Costa D'Angelo | Teenage Adam |
| Gus Turner | Young Charles |
| Tom Sweet | Teenage Charles |
| Bodhi Aisher | Young Cal |
| Jonah Wren Phillips | Young Aron |
| Gigi Morabito | Young Abra |
Recurring and guest cast
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Zoe Phillips | Abra Bacon, Aron's girlfriend |
| Anita Hegh | Liza Hamilton, Samuel's wife |
| Jack Barry | Will Hamilton, Samuel's son |
| Robert Morgan | Sheriff Quinn |
| Josh McConville | Mr. Edwards |
| Simon Maiden | Bill Ames, Cathy's father |
| Leeanna Walsman | Elizabeth Ames, Cathy's mother |
| Christopher Sommers | Mr. Bacon, Abra's father |
| Nicholas Burton | James Grew, Cathy's Latin teacher |
| Brad McMurray | Joe Valery |
| Perry Yung | Older Lau, the cook who raised Lee |
| Peter Hayden | Dr. Wilde |
| Amelia Reynolds, Rose Flanagan, Courtney Cavallaro | Ethel, Georgia and Alice, women at Faye's |
| Richard Hartley | Cotton Eye Joe, a musician at the brothel |
Not sure how everyone is related? See our East of Eden characters and family tree (spoiler-free).
Behind the camera
| Created by | Zoe Kazan, co-showrunner with Jeb Stuart. Her grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 film with James Dean |
| Directors | Garth Davis (episodes 1–4), Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (episodes 5–7) |
| Music | Laura Karpman |
| Filmed | New Zealand, October 2024 to March 2025 |
| Episodes | 7, all released on October 1, 2026 |
Mike Faist was first signed for three episodes; Netflix added one more for him after seeing early footage.
Where to watch
All seven episodes are on Netflix. It's a limited series, so no second season is planned. Netflix's own cast guide has interviews with the actors.
Frequently asked questions
Who is in the cast of East of Eden on Netflix?
Florence Pugh (Cathy Ames), Christopher Abbott (Adam Trask), Mike Faist (Charles Trask), Hoon Lee (Lee), Ciarán Hinds (Samuel Hamilton), Joseph Zada (Cal), Joe Anders (Aron), Tracy Letts (Cyrus Trask) and Martha Plimpton (Faye).
Who plays Cal and Aron in East of Eden 2026?
Joseph Zada plays Cal Trask and Joe Anders plays Aron Trask. Bodhi Aisher and Jonah Wren Phillips play them as boys.
Who plays Abra in Netflix's East of Eden?
Zoe Phillips plays Abra Bacon; Gigi Morabito plays young Abra.
Who plays Lee in East of Eden?
Hoon Lee, known for Warrior and Banshee.
How many episodes is East of Eden on Netflix?
Seven, all released on October 1, 2026. Garth Davis directed episodes 1–4 and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre episodes 5–7.
Where was East of Eden filmed?
In New Zealand, from October 2024 to March 2025. Reported locations include Auckland, Dunedin and Oamaru.
Is there an East of Eden season 2?
No. It's a limited series that adapts the whole novel in seven episodes.
Who created Netflix's East of Eden?
Zoe Kazan, granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 film. Jeb Stuart is co-showrunner.