The upcoming Netflix series East of Eden is a drama based on John Steinbeck’s famous 1952 novel of the same name. The series is created and written by Zoe Kazan. Garth Davis directed Episodes 1–4, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed Episodes 5–7.
The series stars Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, Ciarán Hinds, Joseph Zada, and Joe Anders. Florence Pugh plays Cathy Ames, one of the central characters in the story.
Although East of Eden is set in California’s Salinas Valley, the production was filmed in several parts of New Zealand. The locations helped recreate the look of early 20th-century America.
Here is everything you need to know about the filming locations, filming dates, story, cast, and trailer of East of Eden.
East of Eden follows the Trask and Hamilton families across several generations. The story focuses on Cathy Ames and her connection with the Trask family. It explores family, love, jealousy, good and evil, and the choices people make. The story moves from the years after the Civil War toward the beginning of World War I.
East of Eden will premiere on October 1, 2026. The series will be available on Netflix.
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When and Where Was Netflix’s East of Eden Filmed?
| Film Name | East of Eden |
|---|---|
| Genres | Drama, Period Drama, TV Drama, Based on a Book |
| Filming Locations | Dunedin, Oamaru, Auckland, and Thames, New Zealand |
| Filming Dates | October 2024 – April 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Stuart Dryburgh and Sam Chiplin |
| Release Date | October 1, 2026 |
Filming for East of Eden began in New Zealand in October 2024. The production used several locations across the country to recreate the California setting of John Steinbeck’s story. Dunedin and Oamaru, both on New Zealand’s South Island, were among the main filming areas.
Production was reported to have wrapped in March 2025, while the listed filming period runs through April 2025.
New Zealand was a strong choice for the production because its landscapes, historic towns, and older buildings could help recreate the look of early 20th-century America.
📍Dunedin, New Zealand
Dunedin was one of the main filming locations for East of Eden. The city is located on New Zealand’s South Island and is known for its historic buildings and older streets. These features helped the production create the period look needed for the series.
Dunedin’s mix of historic architecture and natural scenery made it a useful location for the story. The city helped the filmmakers create scenes that feel like they belong to an earlier time.
📍Oamaru, New Zealand
Oamaru was another important filming location for East of Eden. The South Island town is known for its Victorian-era buildings, which give it a strong old-world appearance. This made Oamaru a natural fit for the series’ period setting.
Filming was reported around areas such as the Oamaru Harbourside, Scottish Hall, and Oamaru Squash and Badminton Club. The town helped the production create streets and settings that match the period in which the story takes place.
📍Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland was also used for filming East of Eden. The city is one of New Zealand’s major production centers and offers many different types of locations.
The production could use different parts of Auckland to create settings that match the world of the story. Auckland also provided the crew with access to production facilities and a wide range of filming spaces.
📍Thames, New Zealand
Thames is another New Zealand location used for East of Eden. The town is located on the North Island and is known for its historic character.
Its older streets and buildings were suitable for a period drama like East of Eden. While fewer specific scene details have been made public for Thames, the town was part of the series’ New Zealand filming locations.
Why Was East of Eden Filmed in New Zealand?
Even though East of Eden is set in California, the production chose New Zealand as its main filming base. The country has a wide range of landscapes, historic towns, and locations that can be transformed to look like different parts of the world.
The filmmakers used New Zealand’s scenery and period-style locations to recreate the atmosphere of early 20th-century America. This helped the series build a believable world for the Trask and Hamilton families.
Filming in different parts of New Zealand also allowed the production to create a variety of farms, towns, homes, streets, and outdoor settings without having to film in California.
East of Eden Behind the Scenes
To make your search for East of Eden filming even more interesting and enjoyable, we shared a behind-the-scenes photo here.
The production brought together a large international cast and crew in New Zealand. Florence Pugh leads the series as Cathy Ames, while Christopher Abbott plays Adam Trask and Mike Faist plays Charles Trask. Ciarán Hinds plays Samuel Hamilton, with Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, Joseph Zada, and Joe Anders also appearing in major roles.
The series was filmed over several months, beginning in October 2024 and continuing into 2025. The New Zealand locations helped the filmmakers create the farms, towns, homes, and outdoor settings needed for the story.
Zoe Kazan also used John Steinbeck’s writing notes and letters while developing the series. The adaptation stays connected to Steinbeck’s original novel while giving special attention to Cathy Ames.
The cast and fans may also share more behind-the-scenes glimpses on social media as the release date gets closer.
Is There Any Trailer Available for East of Eden?
Yes. The official trailer for East of Eden is available. The trailer gives viewers a first look at Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames and introduces the complicated relationships between the main characters.
The trailer also shows the dramatic family conflicts, romance, and dark moments that are central to the story.
East of Eden is set to be released on October 1, 2026, by Netflix with 7 Episodes.
FAQs
Q1: Where was East of Eden filmed?
A1: East of Eden was filmed in several locations across New Zealand, including Dunedin, Oamaru, Auckland, and Thames.
Q2: Was East of Eden filmed in California?
A2: No. The story is set in California’s Salinas Valley, but East of Eden was filmed in New Zealand. The New Zealand locations were used to recreate the look of early 20th-century California.
Q3: When did filming for East of Eden begin?
A3: Filming for East of Eden began in October 2024 in New Zealand.
Q4: When did filming for East of Eden end?
A4: Production was reported to have wrapped in March 2025, while the listed filming dates run through April 2025.
Q5: Who stars in East of Eden?
A5: East of Eden stars Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, Ciarán Hinds, Joseph Zada, and Joe Anders.
Q6: Who directed East of Eden?
A6: Garth Davis directed Episodes 1–4, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed Episodes 5–7.
Q7: Who created East of Eden?
A7: East of Eden was created and written by Zoe Kazan and is based on John Steinbeck’s classic novel.
Q8: When will East of Eden be released on Netflix?
A8: East of Eden will premiere on October 1, 2026, with all seven episodes available on Netflix.
Q9: Can I visit the East of Eden filming locations?
A9: Yes. Many areas in Dunedin, Oamaru, Auckland, and Thames are public places, but some filming sites may be private or have visitor restrictions. It is best to check local rules before visiting.
The filming of East of Eden took place across several locations in New Zealand, including Dunedin, Oamaru, Auckland, and Thames. Although the story is set in California, these locations helped the filmmakers recreate the look and feel of the early 20th century.
With Florence Pugh leading a strong cast and Zoe Kazan bringing John Steinbeck’s classic novel to television, East of Eden is one of Netflix’s major drama releases of 2026. The seven-episode limited series will arrive on Netflix on October 1, 2026.
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