Netflix’s Upcoming Fantasy Drama Pairs Sally Field and Lewis Pullman in New Look Ahead of May 8 Release [Exclusive]

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Published Mar 4, 2026, 10:00 AM EST

Ryan O'Rourke is a Senior News Writer at Collider with a specific interest in all things adult animation, video game adaptations, and the work of Mike Flanagan. He is also an experienced baseball writer with over six years of articles between multiple outlets, most notably FanSided's CubbiesCrib. Whether it's taking in a baseball game, a new season of Futurama or Castlevania: Nocturne, or playing the latest From Software title, he is always finding ways to show his fandom. When it comes to gaming and anything that takes inspiration from it, he is deeply opinionated on what's going on. Outside of entertainment, he's a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelor's in Communication where he honed his craft as a writer. Between The IV Leader at Illinois Valley Community College and The Pegasus at Eureka, he spent the majority of his college career publishing articles on everything from politics to campus happenings and, of course, entertainment for the student body. Those principles he learned covering the 2020 election, Palestine, and so much more are brought here to Collider, where he has gleefully written on everything from the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Nathan Lane baby-birding sewer boys.

Netflix has been one of the most active and successful streaming services when it comes to bringing books to life, from their recent, charming Emily Henry adaptation, People We Meet on Vacation, to Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-contending passion project, Frankenstein. Now, the platform's next big novel rendition is just around the corner, and we're excited to feature it as part of Collider's Exclusive Spring Preview series for upcoming film and television. The story in question is Remarkably Bright Creatures, the New York Times bestselling debut novel of author Shelby Van Pelt, featuring a wondrous bond between a widow, a wayward young man, and, last but not least, an octopus. We can share a new image of stars Sally Field and Lewis Pullman together, along with an exclusive conversation with writer-director Olivia Newman about how she adapted the heartfelt tale for the screen.

Remarkably Bright Creatures centers on Tova (Field), a lonely woman who spends her evenings cleaning the local aquarium, and Marcellus, a cantankerous Great Pacific Octopus who calls the venue home and has more going on in his mind than anyone could imagine. Joined by Cameron (Pullman), who has arrived in town in search of family, they forge an unlikely bond and coax each other out of their personal bubbles for a journey none of them expected. They find themselves unraveling a mystery, leading them toward a discovery that changes everything for them and restores a sense of wonder that Tova and Cameron have since lost. Fittingly, our exclusive image shows the pair riding in a car, with giddy smiles on their faces, capturing the excitement and joy this new connection has brought them.

Newman has some experience bringing beloved books to life, previously helming the 2022 adaptation of Delia Owens' mystery drama Where the Crawdads Sing. When it came to Remarkably Bright Creatures, she wanted to capture everything that made Van Pelt's original novel so special, not just the core themes. There was also a unique challenge of how to implement the point of view and narration of the titular, astonishingly intelligent Marcellus the octopus to get a sense of his experience. She told Collider that it all required a deft balancing act to infuse the emotional story with wit, levity, and a dose of magical realism as both humans and their octopus friend seek companionship.

"It was really important to me that the movie stay true to the emotional heart and tone of the book. Although Remarkably Bright Creatures addresses themes of grief, loss and longing for connection, there is also this wonderful humor and wit that comes through each character’s unique perspective and voice. Maintaining that levity while staying grounded in the human drama at the core of the story was really important to me. I also, of course, loved Marcellus’ astute and hilarious observations of the human species and wanted to keep his curmudgeonly voice and point-of-view integral to the story. So finding ways to put the audience inside an octopus’ singular experience — visually, audibly, intellectually, and emotionally — was something I was really excited to tackle."

'Remarkably Bright Creatures' Stars Brought a Mix of Vulnerability and Humor

Newman isn't the only one with experience translating stories to other media aboard the creative team. Her co-writer, John Whittington, is best known for his work on the scripts for both Sonic the Hedgehog sequels, the Knuckles spin-off series, and the upcoming fourth blockbuster, set to premiere in 2027. He and Newman were joined by a production team including Bryan Unkeless, David Levine, and Peter Craig, alongside executive producers Van Pelt, Erika Hampson, Alisa Tager, Tony Lipp, and Alyssa Rodrigues. As for the cast, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, and Sofia Black D'Elia are set to join the headlining duo of Field and Pullman.

The two leads brought a lot to the table, with Field being a two-time Oscar winner with a career of highlights ranging from Norma Rae to 80 for Brady, and Pullman having plenty of blockbuster experience in Top Gun: Maverick and Marvel's Thunderbolts*. What Newman loved most about working with them was their ability to be very open for those more vulnerable moments between Tova and Cameron, while still being hilarious, effectively capturing the multifaceted tone of the book. She told Collider:

"Working with Sally and Lewis was a career highlight for me. They are both so present and open as actors and had this incredibly organic chemistry that made every scene come to life in the most unexpected ways. They are both deeply committed actors, willing to go to their most vulnerable places, but also to find joy and humor at any moment. I don’t think I have laughed as much every day as I did working on this film with the two of them!"

Altogether, Remarkably Bright Creatures has all the pieces to be a cozy yet deeply stirring watch, with top-notch actors, a story of loss, grief, and the need for connection, and one charming animal with the amazing power to bring the right people together. "I hope that watching the film feels like a warm hug to audiences at a time when I think everyone could use one," Newman added. Its message resonated with the writer-director while she was putting it all together, and in a deeply uncertain, divided time in the world, she hopes others can get the same value out of it. "Working on this film during a period of intense personal loss and grief was a really life-affirming experience for me and reminded me of the strength and joy to be found in community. I hope that resonates for audiences as well."

Remarkably Bright Creatures surfaces on Netflix on May 8. Check out our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider throughout the week for more from our spring preview series.