Sally Field is in talks to star in “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” a film adaptation of the novel by Shelby Van Pelt.

Netflix has acquired the project, which is in early stages of development. Olivia Newman, the filmmaker of last summer’s sleeper hit “Where the Crawdads Sing,” is directing the movie. “Where the Crawdads Sing,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, was based on the best-selling novel by Delia Owens and grossed $144 million at the global box office. Newman is also co-writing the screenplay with John Whittington.

Netflix declined to comment.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures,” Van Pelt’s debut novel, was released in 2022 and became a best-seller. The story follows a lonely widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant octopus. After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she begins working the night shift as a janitor at a local aquarium. At work, she becomes acquainted with an eight-tentacled animal named Marcellus, who helps Tova uncover...