Kazan's vision for the Netflix series, which premiered on October 1, centers firmly on character over spectacle. As she revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she made it clear to every department head that the show's success hinged on audiences leaving the experience talking about the characters, not just the period costumes or elaborate sets. "If people walk away from this talking about the costumes and the wigs, we haven’t done our job," Kazan stated, emphasizing the human connection she sought to forge.
Her personal connection to East of Eden runs deep, having first read the novel at 15. However, she felt the 1955 film adaptation, despite its acclaim, missed crucial elements, particularly the full scope of characters like Cathy Ames, the intergenerational narrative, and the exploration of recurring patterns and the possibility of change within families. This conviction, coupled with the onset of motherhood, reignited her passion to adapt the story herself, leading to a pitch that ultimately landed at Netflix.
One of the most compelling aspects of Kazan's adaptation is her reimagining of key characters. Cathy Ames, portrayed by Florence Pugh, was a particular revelation. Initially, Kazan questioned why she shouldn't start the series with Cathy. However, she later realized that Cathy's disruptive nature only truly lands if the audience first understands the "love story" between the brothers, Adam and Charles Trask. In writing Cathy, Kazan gained a profound insight: "She is absolutely deceptive in so many ways, but she is almost always saying something that is true." Kazan also brought her own life experiences to her reading of Cathy's childhood, viewing Steinbeck's descriptions as a "portrait of dissociation" and a reflection of a young body sexualized and targeted.
Christopher Abbott's portrayal of Adam Trask also allowed Kazan to delve deeper into a character she initially found mysterious. She came to understand Adam's passivity as a deliberate choice, a clinging to a dream of perfection. Similarly, her understanding of Lee (Hoon Lee), the Trask family's Chinese servant, expanded significantly after she became a parent, identifying with his unwavering dedication and the immense labor of raising the boys. Even Aron (Joe Anders), a character Kazan initially found "annoying," grew on her as she recognized the burden of his desire for perfection.
While committed to the novel's core, Kazan also aimed to navigate Steinbeck's original text with a modern sensibility. She sought to remain faithful to his intention while moving beyond the "politics or values of his time" where they might hinder the storytelling. She found much of the novel "shockingly contemporary," citing Lee's code-switching scene as an example that resonated deeply with actor Hoon Lee. Yet, she acknowledged the presence of "incredibly racist descriptions of Lee's face" in the original, underscoring the delicate balance of honoring the source while reframing its values.
Ultimately, Kazan hopes her East of Eden series serves as an "advanced form of reading," providing a rich, character-driven experience that encourages viewers to return to Steinbeck's original pages. She believes there's "so much treasure left for a reader to explore" in the book, and that if her series leaves audiences wanting more, and sends them back to the source material, she will have accomplished her goal.