A film about the remarkably bright creatures is in the works with Sally Field

Sally Field, the veteran actress last seen in 80 for Bradyis in talks to star in the feature film, which will be directed by Olivia Newman, perhaps best known for directing Where the Crayfish SingNewman also wrote the screenplay with John Whittington.

The adaptation will be produced by David Levine via Anonymous Content with Bryan Unkeless (Me, Tonya) and Peter Craig, the renowned screenwriter of The city And The BatmanCraig is also Field’s son.

The novel tells the unique relationship between a lonely woman working as a janitor at an aquarium and a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus living in the facility.

The woman is grieving the death of her husband and is still recovering from the disappearance of her son at sea thirty years earlier. The octopus is a grumpy cephalopod but more intelligent than the humans around him realize, and he may be the only one who can help the woman.

The book was published by Ecco in the spring of 2022 and became a word-of-mouth sensation, becoming the best-selling book of 2023, according to some book tracking publications. The book has sold over 2 million copies and has gone through at least 30 reprints, earning it the popular nickname “this octopus book.”

It is the debut novel by Van Pelt, a former financial advisor who over the years has built it up from a short story she wrote in a fiction writing workshop at Emory University.

Netflix has not commented on the deal.

Executive producers are Tony Lipp of Anonymous Content and Alyssa Rodrigues.

Whittington co-wrote Sonic the hedgehog 2which grossed over $400 million worldwide, then launched the The joints limited series for Paramount+ in April. He co-wrote Sonic 3which will be released in December. Whittington has a history in animation, working on The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Ninjago Movie, And DC Super-Animal League.

Newman already has experience in the field of adaptation since his Crayfish translated Delia Owens’ book. The film proved to be a success, grossing $144.3 million worldwide on a budget of $24 million. She also directed the pilot of The last thing he said to meApple’s adaptation of Laura Dave’s novel starring Jennifer Garner.

Field’s long film career includes two Academy Awards, for Norma Rae and the years 1984 Places in the heartand a nomination for Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln. His credits range from Smokey and the Bandit movies and Hooper has Mrs. Doubtfire And Forrest Gump to play Aunt May in Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man films. Her most recent work includes playing Jeanie Buss in the HBO television series Buying Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Field is represented by UTA and Anonymous Content. Newman is represented by WME, Grandview and Jackoway Austen…