Sally Field to Star in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ for Netflix

Sally Field is in talks to star in “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” a film adaptation of the novel by Shelby Van Pelt.

Netflix has acquired the project, which is in early stages of development. Olivia Newman, the filmmaker of last summer’s sleeper hit “Where the Crawdads Sing,” is directing the movie. “Where the Crawdads Sing,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, was based on the best-selling novel by Delia Owens and grossed $144 million at the global box office. Newman is also co-writing the screenplay with John Whittington (“Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” “The Lego Batman Movie”).

Netflix declined to comment.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures,” Van Pelt’s debut novel, was released in 2022 and became a best-seller. The story follows a lonely widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant octopus. After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she begins working the night shift as a janitor at a local aquarium. At work, she becomes acquainted with an eight-tentacled animal named Marcellus, who helps Tova uncover the truth about her son’s disappearance at sea 30 years ago.

Fields, a two-time Oscar winner for “Norma Rae” and “Places in the Heart,” was most recently in “80 for Brady,” an senior-focused comedy about best friends whose obsession with Tom Brady brings them to the Super Bowl. Her expansive film credits include “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Forrest Gump,” “Steel Magnolia,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Lincoln.”

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news about the film adaptation.