Florence Pugh stars in a new Netflix series East of Eden that has been filming in New Zealand. File photo / AP
Florence Pugh stars in a new Netflix series East of Eden that has been filming in New Zealand. File photo / AP
A classic of American literature is being adapted into a Netflix series, starring Florence Pugh, and with parts of New Zealand as its backdrop.
The seven-part series East of Eden, based on John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel and set in the Salinas Valley in California, is being filmed in New Zealand.
The production filmed in parts of Auckland throughout last year, with shooting in taking place in Dunedin and Ōamaru this month.
The novel follows two intertwined families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, whose destinies mirror the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
Ōamaru's Victorian Precinct. The town is currently being transformed for Netflix's adaption of John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden. Photo / Thomas Bywater.
The novel was first adapted as a film in 1955, starring James Dean.
Netflix’s production stars English actress Pugh as the lead character Cathy Ames, alongside Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott, and Ciarán Hinds.
The series will be directed by Zoe Kazan, whose grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 adaptation.
Several of Ōamaru’s streets have been dressed up for the series, with 70 trucks and trailers supporting the large crew of 500 people involved, many of whom are local workers.
Key locations, including the Harbourside, Scottish Hall, and Ōamaru Squash and Badminton Club.
The production has caused some disruptions, with road closures on Harbour, Humber, and Tyne streets, as well as Service Lane, throughout a 12-day period this month.
The coastal Otago town has been utilised as the backdrop for many Hollywood productions before, including Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog. Photo / File
The crew is also set to film in Dunedin, where filming will take over parts of the city centre on four consecutive Sundays, weather permitting, with an application for road closures submitted to the Dunedin City Council.
Ōamaru Steam and Rail Society General manager Harry Andrew said some members of the volunteer group were assisting with the production around the railway.
“They came to us about doing the [series] and asked what we could provide. We had to get a unit from Ferrymead because the one we had wasn’t old enough for the production.
“It’s been great to work with them ... We had good weather today, and they’re in the station right now putting in a new platform and painting the station to reflect the era. A young lady is inside painting the wagon to make it fit the series.”
Andrews said the money he earned from the production went straight back to the Steam and Rail Society.
“The society is making money, and we’re getting the station painted for free. It takes the load off us. If it’s not quite how we want it, they’ll fix it.
“I hope it brings in more tourists. It’s great for the railway and the town.
“This is my third movie with the railway. It’s a good deal. They pay for what they need, and we don’t lose out.
Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said the production was a major step up from previous ones in the area.
He said many residents had been surprised by the scale of it.
“It’s something the public has welcomed and it’s adding a lot of interest to the area. A lot of people are also taking advantage of playing parts as extras.”
He said there had been extensive work around Harbour St, where a lot of buildings were used for exterior and interior shots.
“Some of them have been given makeovers. Ōamaru Steam and Rail, the volunteer-run recreational railway, has got their steam train running, and they’ve had a couple of carriages done up.”
He said the makeover emphasised the impact that a production with a budget of this scale could have despite being in town for only short period.
“The authenticity of the source material, East of Eden, adds to the production. It’s a classic novel, and when people see what has been done with other series that come from important novels, it gives credibility to the production."
Feedback from the crew regarding filming in Ōamaru had been positive, Kircher said.
“One of the things that’s been acknowledged is the co-operation of locals. This really emphasises the benefits that people see from this type of activity. It’s great for the economy, the community, and our heritage.”
The production is set to continue filming in the Auckland suburb of Devonport in February.
A letter sent to Devonport residents advising them of road closures and parking restrictions was seen by the Herald.
It told residents, “We intend to film around a couple of houses, in the Devonport Domain and film on Cheltenham Road between Oxford Terrace and Takarunga Rd.
“As this story is set between the late 1800s and early 1900s we don’t wish to see any modern vehicles and would like to cover large sections of the road (including some of Oxford Tce and Tainui Rd) and footpaths with gravel.”
Steinbeck, who also penned the classic novels Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, considered East of Eden to be his ‘magnum opus’.
Garth Davis will direct the first four episodes, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre will direct the final three episodes.
The series is set to be released on Netflix in early 2026.
Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.
