Jennifer Lawrence to star in 'East of Eden' adapation

Given Hollywood's penchant for telling the same stories over and over again, it's hard to believe that there hasn't been a feature film adaptation of John Steinbeck's epic classic "East of Eden" since the 1955 version starring James Dean.

But Steinbeck's estate just signed off on a film version of the 1952 novel -- to be produced by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment and directed by "Hunger Games'" Gary Ross -- Deadline reported Wednesday.

Ross, who plans to split the sprawling story into two films, wants Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence to play Cathy Ames, a cruel, calculating and ultimately absent mother to twins Caleb and Aron Trask.

Jane Seymour played Cathy in a 1981 mini-series produced by ABC.