Monorepo

Alfred Molina pivots from Doc Ock to a real octopus in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures

Alfred Molina pivots from Doc Ock to a real octopus in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures
source: gettyimages
April 9, 2026

Alfred Molina, long memorable as Doctor Octopus from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, lends his voice to an unlikely role in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures. He voices Marcellus, a highly intelligent Giant Pacific octopus, in the film adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 debut novel.

The story centers on an unexpected friendship between a grieving widow and the octopus who resides at the aquarium where she works. Sally Field plays Tova, the widowed protagonist, while Lewis Pullman portrays Cameron, a musician whose own path crosses with Tova’s in surprising ways. The plot follows Marcellus as he quietly engages in a mission that helps heal Tova’s heart and leads to a life-changing revelation.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is slated to premiere on Netflix on May 8. Fans have noted the amusing coincidence of Molina voicing an octopus again, joking about his now-familiar “octopus” typecasting and marveling at the actor stepping into oceanic life once more.

If you’re curious about what else is arriving on streaming this month, or want more about upcoming releases, you can explore our updated streaming guide and this year’s movie release calendar for other titles to watch.

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