Mike Faist on East of Eden: Ego, Love Triangles, and Spielberg

**Spoiler warning: This article contains details from Zoe Kazan's *East of Eden* adaptation, now streaming on Netflix.**

Mike Faist has been selective since his breakout in Steven Spielberg's *West Side Story*. So when he said yes to *East of Eden* — his first job after a big 2024 — it meant the project had to feel essential. In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Faist explained why the miniseries was a no-brainer.

He first encountered James Dean's 1955 *East of Eden* as a teenager in New York, studying Dean's raw performance as Cal Trask. Two decades later, Zoe Kazan called to offer him the role of Charles Trask, Cal's uncle. Faist told THR the call sparked both excitement and dread — the kind that signals he's about to dive deep.

"The two things that go through your mind when you get that call about something as exciting as this are, Hell yes — and also, Oh God."

The male ego theory

A key moment in the series involves the revelation that Cyrus Trask (Tracy Letts) fabricated his war-hero record and stole from veterans' funds. Faist initially assumed Cyrus favored his son Adam for the military because of the Cain-and-Abel allegory — Charles, the farmer, was left behind. But during the interview, Faist and THR explored another reading: Cyrus chose Adam precisely because he was less talented, so his own invented legacy would never be eclipsed. Faist agreed, calling it a matter of protecting the male ego.

"I had never really thought of it in that kind of way, but the truth of the matter is, it makes a lot of sense. You were able to answer why the lie existed."

Love triangles and time travel

Faist's *Challengers* and now *East of Eden* both feature complex triangular relationships. When THR offered a theory — that love triangles appeal because they let audiences explore whether characters chose the right person, similar to time-travel stories about regret — Faist laughed and called it a real truth. His character Charles sees something familiar in the mysterious Cathy (Florence Pugh), and the tension fuels the drama.

Still learning from Spielberg

Faist reflected on his time with Spielberg, saying he continues to learn from the director even now, watching his new films. He praised Spielberg's latest sci-fi project and noted how directors like Spielberg, Lucas, and Scorsese shaped his generation.

"There's just no one better."

As for what's next, Faist wouldn't spill any details — not even about the rumored *Sgt. Rock* project with Luca Guadagnino. He said he's having fun, but the curtain stays closed for now.

• adaptation
• East of Eden
• Mike Faist
• Netflix
• Steven Spielberg
• Zoë Kazan