Oscar winner Sally Field has entered negotiations for the leading role in Netflix‘s upcoming drama Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on Shelby Van Pelt’s popular 2022 novel of the same name. The project hails from Where the Crawdads Sing director Olivia Newman.
Should the deal be finalized, Field will be play a widow who forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus. The veteran actress’ most recent project was last year’s 80 for Brady comedy movie, where she starred alongside Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Rita Moreno. Field is best known for her award-winning performances in movies like Norma Rae, Places in the Heart, Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump and more.
What is Remarkably Bright Creatures about?
Remarkably Bright Creatures will be directed by Newman, who is also co-writing the screenplay with John Whittington. The film will be produced by David Levine, Bryan Unkeless, and Peter Craig. Executive producers are Tony Lipp and Alyssa Rodrigues.
The novel’s official book synopsis reads, “After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
