‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ Trailer: Watch Sally Field And Lewis Pullman Bond As Alfred Molina’s Octopus Marcellus Narrates
“Humans, for the most part, are inept creatures,” Alfred Molina’s Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus and star of the story says as the clip opens.
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Shelby Van Pelt, the film follows a widow, Tova Sullivan (Field) who works as a cleaner at her local aquarium, where she befriends a Giant Pacific Octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina) and finds unexpected joy in their bond.
When Lewis Pullman’s character — Cameron in the book — is hired to replace her as aquarium glass cleaner, Tova takes up the task of showing him that “there is a right way and a wrong way to do things.”
Her instructions for him range from cleaning the aquatic cages in circular motions, not up and down to prying chewing gum off the aquarium floor.
“Of all the humans, I suppose I mind the cleaning lady the least,” Molina’s Marcellus says, educing that Tova and Pullman’s character “share a similar affliction.”
“There may be potential for mutual repair,” Marcellus says as he wraps tentacles around both Tova’s and Cameron’s arms.
“Go ahead,” Tova encourages Cameron. “He won’t hurt you.” Then the climax of Noah Kahan’s “Northern Attitude” sounds as people encourage Tova to get out and socialize. Cameron looks to form a romantic connection under her watchful eye as well.
Remarkably Bright Creatures also stars Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black D’Elia.
Van Pelt’s debut novel was released in 2022, the same year director Olivia Newman made her directorial debut with the adaptation of Delilah Owens’ Where The Crawdads Sing, a Hello Sunshine film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Harris Dickinson, Taylor John-Smith and more.
In addition to directing the feature, Newman cowrote the adapted screenplay with John Whittington. The film is produced by Bryan Unkeless, Peter Craig and David Levine. Author Van Pelt serves as executive producer alongside Newman, Erika Hampson, Alisa Tager, Tony Lipp and Alyssa Rodrigues.
