East of Eden Grabs New Writer, Director

Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer have hired Tom Hooper to direct and Christopher Hampton to write East of Eden, an adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel, report the trades.

First published in 1952, East of Eden is Steinbeck’s retelling of the Cain and Abel story, set in California’s Salinas Valley. The multigenerational story focuses on the Trask brothers and a woman who comes between the siblings. Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront) helmed a film version of the novel in 1955 with James Dean in the lead role.

Universal and Imagine first optioned Steinbeck’s book in 2004, when it shot to the top of the bestseller lists right after Oprah Winfrey chose it as the first selection when she revived her book club. Ron Howard was attached to direct it and Paul Attanasio (The Good German, Quiz Show) was hired to write it.

Hooper previously directed the HBO mini-series John Adams, which won four Golden Globes on Sunday. Hampton’s credits include Atonement, The Quiet American and Mary Reilly.

The studio hopes to put East of Eden into production later this year.