Sally Field reveals why the story of Remarkably Bright Creatures needed to be told and more from Netflix’s red carpet premiere.
Based on the beloved best-selling novel by Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures follows the story of Tova, an elderly widow who works the night shift at a local aquarium. Seeking solace in her routine, she forms an unlikely bond with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Through this mysterious connection, Tova uncovers a life-changing discovery that brings a sense of joy, wonder, and healing back into her life.
Mama’s Geeky had the pleasure of attending the red carpet premiere to celebrate this heartwarming adaptation. While there, we spoke with the legendary Sally Field, director Olivia Newman, the book’s author Shelby Van Pelt, and supporting cast members Beth Grant and Kathy Baker to discuss the magic of the story and what it was like bringing it to the screen.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Cast & Creatives On The Red Carpet
Mama’s Geeky: What was it about this story and the character of Tova that really drew you in?
Sally Field: I read two chapters of the galleys that were presented to me. It’s a story of an older woman, a young man, and an octopus. So it’s not a kind of story that comes around very often. It’s about family, and healing, and loss, and love, and it’s an homage to sea creatures.
Mama’s Geeky: Shelby, when you got the call that your book was being made into a Netflix movie with this incredible cast, what was your reaction?
Shelby Van Pelt: I was actually in Iceland when I got that call… I remember just screaming in the middle of this lava field. I really could not imagine a better cast. Sally Field is a national treasure, truly. To be able to—Sally is such an actor that has such emotional depth, and for me as a writer to be like, I wrote a character that she saw that in is just a huge compliment.
Mama’s Geeky: Olivia, bringing a photoreal octopus to life as a narrator is a huge task. How did you balance that without it feeling too whimsical?
Olivia Newman: Creating an octopus that is photoreal is a huge challenge… making sure anything we put in the movie was 100% realistic. But then also having an octopus narrating the film that doesn’t all of a sudden make the film feel hokey or cartoonish. Keeping it feeling really grounded—that was a big challenge.
Mama’s Geeky: Beth, is there a specific memory from filming that you will take with you forever?
Beth Grant: The day that it was the last scene, when we’re having the dinner, and we’re all together… I was introduced to corn hole. So we had to learn to play it. And we played for a long time before we shot. Barb, my character, is very competitive. I got very competitive.
Mama’s Geeky: Kathy, what was the experience like working alongside Sally Field?
Kathy Baker: She’s fabulous. She’s professional. She’s prepared. She’s funny. She’s great. I just think the memory of all these girls—we had such a great group of girls. We had so much fun shooting this one scene where [Tova] was about to go out on a date, and we were all trying to hide, and we were just being silly girls.
For more from the Remarkably Bright Creatures cast and creators, be sure to watch the full video interview.
About Remarkably Bright Creatures
Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova, an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again.
Remarkably Bright Creatures comes to Netflix on May 8.