Netflix Reveals New Details About its 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' Film
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Netflix has completed production on its adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures, the bestselling debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt that has captivated more than a million readers since its 2022 release. Directed by Olivia Newman, known for Where the Crawdads Sing, the film stars two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field alongside Lewis Pullman and a distinguished supporting cast. With production now wrapped, the project is poised to become one of Netflix's major literary adaptations.
Why It Matters
The film adaptation marks Netflix's continued investment in literary properties with established fanbases. As of December 2023, Remarkably Bright Creatures had sold 1.4 million copies and had enjoyed a prolonged run on the New York Times bestseller list. The story, centered around an elderly widow and a curmudgeonly octopus, has been lauded for its unusual charm and emotional depth.
As described in 2023 by the New York Times, the debut novel is "one of those increasingly rare success stories: a quiet, quirky literary debut that has been buoyed by bookseller love and word-of-mouth recommendations."
The film also reunites Sally Field with a leading dramatic role, which could further elevate the adaptation's profile ahead of its release. Netflix confirmed production wrapped in May.
An octopus floats in the water.
An octopus floats in the water.
wrangel/Getty Images
What to Know
Remarkably Bright Creatures follows Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. The octopus, whose inner monologue appears throughout the novel, becomes key in unraveling the decades-old mystery of Tova's son's disappearance. According to Netflix's official synopsis, "Marcellus is on a mission to solve a mystery that will heal her heart and lead her to a life-changing discovery."
The book's origin story is as unconventional as its plot. Van Pelt, a former financial consultant, created the character of Marcellus in a fiction writing workshop assignment and later expanded it into vignettes, according to The New York Times. "I wasn't thinking too hard about, is this salable?" she told The New York Times. "Because I never thought anybody would read it."
The novel was eventually acquired by Ecco, which delayed the paperback edition due to sustained demand for the hardcover. In February, nearly three years after the book's original release, Van Pelt announced a tour to promote the forthcoming paperback. Her tour extends through the end of May where she plans to visit Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and California.
The novel picked up traction when Jenna Busch selected it for her "Read with Jenna" book club, and, according to The New York Times, this lead to Van Pelt's appearance on The Today Show.
As for the Netflix adaptation, a release date for the movie has not yet been announced.
Who Is in the Cast of Netflix's 'Remarkably Bright Creatures'?
Netflix has assembled a high-profile ensemble for the adaptation. Sally Field, whose credits include Lincoln and Forrest Gump, plays Tova. Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick, Lessons in Chemistry) co-stars, with Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Joan Chen (The Wedding Banquet), Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands), Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men), and Sofia Black-D'Elia (Single Drunk Female) rounding out the cast.
The screenplay is co-written by Olivia Newman and John Whittington (Sonic the Hedgehog 3). Bryan Unkeless and Peter Craig are producing for Night Owl Pictures, with executive producers including Anonymous Content's David Levine, Tony Lipp, Erika Hampson, and Alisa Tager, along with Van Pelt herself.
What People Are Saying
Shelby Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, posted on Instagram on March 28: "I will never in my life be this cool again. It's been an amazing week on set and I cannot wait for this movie to come out."
Beth Seufer Buss, sales associate at Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told The New York Times in 2023: "I don't think it's going to drop off, because everybody who reads it wants other people to read it. This is a universal recommendation. No matter what you're in the mood for or what you're going through, I can put this book in your hands."
Jenna Bush Hager told Today.com in May 2022: "This novel is filled with love, humor, joy and healing. It demonstrates the power and beauty of unexpected friendships. I can't wait for this creative, feel-good story to surprise and delight the Read With Jenna book club this May."
What's Next
For now, readers and viewers alike await a visual interpretation of one of the most beloved literary debuts of recent years.
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