The trailer for director Olivia Newman’s adaptation of the Shelby Van Pelt novel Remarkably Bright Creatures has just been dropped by Netflix.
Starring a cast of Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black D’Elia and Alfred Molina, the mystery-drama focuses on “A widow who works at a local aquarium finds joy again when she forms an unlikely bond with a Giant Pacific Octopus and a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family.”
“Together, they will uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder,” the synopsis adds.
Newman (2018’s First Match and 2022’s Where the Crawdads Sing) shares screenwriting credits with John Whittington, with Bryan Unkeless, Peter Craig, and David Levine serving as producers.
The original book was published in 2022 by Ecco Press and went on to receive the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize, awarded by the Writers’ Centre, in 2023. It also earned a spot on the New York Times hardcover fiction best-seller list and sold a total of 2 million copies, with 30 reprints.
The film adaptation was announced in the summer of 2024, with confirmation of Newman’s writing and directing and Field’s casting following soon after. The rest of the film’s cast were confirmed in May 2025.
Field is most known for her performance in 1979’s Norma Rae, and 1984’s Places in the Heart, both of which earned her Best Actress Oscar wins in the 52nd and 57th award ceremonies, respectively. She also received praise for her role in Chris Columbus’s 1993 comedy classic Mrs Doubtfire, alongside dearly missed comedy legend Robin Williams.
Remarkably Bright Creatures hits Netflix on 8th May.
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