Brief
Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’ filmed in New Zealand’s historic towns
The series used New Zealand’s Victorian architecture and landscapes to recreate the novel’s California setting.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Netflix’s seven‑part adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden was filmed in New Zealand, more than 6,000 miles from the story’s original California setting, according to the Independent.
What happened
The production team chose New Zealand’s South Island to double the Salinas Valley described in the book. Filming centred on Ōamaru, a small town in the Waitaki District of Otago, whose historic precinct retains limestone Victorian buildings from the late 1800s. The series also used other unspoiled natural locations across the country to capture the pastoral feel of early‑20th‑century California.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the decision was driven by the abundance of Victorian architecture left intact after New Zealand’s 19th‑century gold rush, which provided “many more locations available to us than there would’ve been easily in one place in the States,” as quoted from writer‑producer Zoe Kazan. The outlet also highlights that the natural landscape offered an ideal stand‑in for the Salinas Valley as it was known between the American Civil War and the end of World War I.
What was said
“The movie isn’t a super faithful adaptation of the small part of the book that it is adapting,” Kazan told Netflix’s Tudum, as reported by the Independent. She added, “What I felt was the whole epic story is an opportunity to explore, to fall in love with all these characters.”
How it came about
Earlier this month, Felo News reported on the adaptation’s creative choices, including the omission of the Hamilton family storyline and the addition of a new character, Lee (see article). The current piece expands on the production’s location strategy, linking the series’ visual approach to New Zealand’s preserved Victorian heritage and its suitability as a surrogate for Steinbeck’s Californian setting.
Key facts
- Netflix’s East of Eden series was filmed in New Zealand, primarily in the town of Ōamaru, Otago. (independent.co.uk)
- Ōamaru’s historic precinct retains late‑1800s limestone Victorian architecture used for the series. (independent.co.uk)
- Zoe Kazan said the series is not a super‑faithful adaptation and aims to explore the epic story. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Where was East of Eden filmed? The New Zealand locations spotted in the film”
