Gary Ross Adapts "East Of Eden" Script--Will Also Direct As Well

Hunger Games director Gary Ross has agreed to pen the adapted screenplay and helm the latest and long planned adaptation of East of Eden says THR

Based upon author John Steinbeck's classic novel about two brothers who compete for the attention of their farmer father in California around the time of World War I.

Jennifer Lawrence would play Cathy Ames, the boys’ estranged mother.

Brian Grazer is producing the film.

Due to the size and scope of the mulch-generational story, a two film adaptation had been proposed with the first part focused on the parents and the second on the two sons when they become adults. Whether that's the case is unknown at this time.

In 2004 director Ron Howard and writer Paul Attanasio got the ball rolling on making the film only to stall out. And then in 2009, director Tom Hooper and writer Christopher Hampton made a second attempt to no avail

The story was first put on screen in 1955 by the great Elia Kazan starring James Dean and Richard Davalos. It hit the small screen in 1981 as a TV Mini-Series.