The movie adaptation of that octopus book has rounded out its cast.
Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney and Joan Chen have joined Sally Field in Netflix’s adaptation of , the wildly popular novel by Shelby Van Pelt. (How popular? It’s been on the New York Times best-seller list for 64 weeks.)
Also boarding the roll call are Kathy Baker (Picket Fences), Beth Grant (Little Miss Sunshine, No Country For Old Men) and Single Drunk Female star Sofia Black D’Elia.
Olivia Newman, best known for helming Where the Crawdads Sing, is directing the feature that is now shooting in Vancouver.
The novel tells of the unique relationship between a lonely elderly widow named Tova working as a janitor at an aquarium and a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus living at the facility. Tova forms an unlikely friendship with the curmudgeonly cephalopod, but unbeknownst to her, Marcellus is on a mission to solve a mystery that will heal the widow’s heart and lead her to a life-changing discovery.
Kathy Baker, Beth Grant and Sofia Black D’Elia
Getty Images for Capital Concerts; Michael Chieffo; Michael Creagh
The book was released by Ecco in spring 2022 and became a word-of-mouth sensation, growing to become the top-selling book of 2023, according to certain book tracking publications. The book has sold over 2 million copies and gone through at least 30 printings as it became known popularly as “that octopus book.”
Producing the adaptation are Bryan Unkeless and Peter Craig for Night Owl, along with David Levine of Anonymous Content.
Exec producers include Alyssa Rodrigues of Night Owl, Tony Lipp of Anonymous Content, Erika Hampson, as well as Newman and Van Pelt.
Pullman last starred in New Line’s adaptation of Stephen King novel Salem’s Lot and appeared with Josh Brolin in Outer Range and with Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. He next shows up as part of the ensemble of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, which opens May 2. He is repped by CAA and Anonymous Content.
Irish actor Meaney, who made a name for himself by starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, is currently starring on European crime series Safe Harbor. He is repped by IAG, Liebman Entertainment, Accelerate and Brecheen Feldman.
Chen appeared in FX series A Murder at the End of the World and appears in the upcoming remake of The Wedding Banquet that opens April 18. She is repped by Anonymous Content.
The Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning Baker is repped by Paradigm and Berwick & Kovacik. D’Elia is repped by CAA and Brookside Artist Management.
Newman is repped WME and Untitled Entertainment, while Whittington is repped by Verve and Untitled.
