Netflix’s 2026 adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s acclaimed novel Remarkably Bright Creatures has captivated audiences with its touching story of grief, friendship, and unexpected family ties. Starring Sally Field as the widowed Tova Sullivan, Lewis Pullman as the drifter Cameron, and featuring Alfred Molina’s voice as the intelligent octopus Marcellus, the film is set in the fictional seaside town of Sowell Bay on Washington’s Puget Sound. While the narrative unfolds against a backdrop of misty shores, quaint docks, and a charming local aquarium, the production cleverly transformed real locations in British Columbia, Canada, into this atmospheric Pacific Northwest world.
Director Olivia Newman and her team chose Vancouver and its surrounding areas for principal photography, capitalizing on the region’s stunning coastal scenery that closely mirrors the novel’s Washington State setting. Although Sowell Bay exists only in the pages of Van Pelt’s book, the production achieved remarkable authenticity by blending practical locations with subtle digital enhancements. This careful selection not only provided visually rich environments but also allowed the emotional core of the story—loneliness, connection, and healing—to resonate against genuinely evocative backdrops.
The heart of the film revolves around the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where Tova forms her extraordinary bond with Marcellus during her nightly cleaning shifts. For exterior shots of this key location, filmmakers utilized the Deep Cove Yacht Club on Gallant Avenue in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove neighbourhood. This picturesque waterfront venue, overlooking the serene waters of Indian Arm fjord, perfectly captured the modest, community-oriented feel of the fictional aquarium. The yacht club’s charming blue building and surrounding marina were transformed with minor set adjustments to embody Tova’s workplace, creating an inviting yet slightly weathered coastal charm that feels lived-in and authentic.
Interior aquarium scenes, however, were primarily filmed at the renowned Vancouver Aquarium, located in the heart of Stanley Park at 845 Avison Way. This world-class facility, home to thousands of aquatic exhibits, provided the ideal setting for the film’s mesmerizing underwater sequences. Audiences can spot real jellyfish tanks and other marine displays in the background, lending genuine texture to the environments where Tova and Marcellus interact. To enhance realism, the production even incorporated footage of a real Giant Pacific Octopus named Agnetha from the aquarium. While Marcellus himself is largely a CGI creation, Agnetha’s movements and behaviours served as crucial reference material, helping animators craft a believable and endearing cephalopod character.
Deep Cove itself played a significant role beyond the yacht club. The neighbourhood’s peaceful government dock, scenic waterfront paths, and residential areas stood in for various Sowell Bay locations, including the pier where Tova often sits in quiet reflection. Its tight-knit community atmosphere and natural beauty made it an excellent double for the fictional town, so much so that author Shelby Van Pelt herself expressed delight upon visiting, noting how closely it resembled the setting she had imagined while writing.
Production extended to other parts of British Columbia to capture diverse aspects of the story. The small coastal town of Lions Bay, situated between Vancouver and Squamish, contributed additional exterior scenes with its rugged shoreline and intimate village feel. Meanwhile, a handful of minor sequences were shot in Maple Ridge, further enriching the film’s sense of place with varied landscapes that evoke the Pacific Northwest’s mix of forest, water, and small-town life. Additional spots, such as Whytecliff Park beach and local eateries like the Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant in Steveston Village, added layers of everyday realism to Cameron’s journey and the community interactions.
This strategic use of Canadian locations offered several advantages. British Columbia’s film industry infrastructure provided skilled crews, state-of-the-art facilities, and tax incentives, while the region’s climate and geography allowed for consistent shooting conditions that matched the story’s moody, overcast aesthetic. The decision to film in a real working aquarium rather than relying solely on sets also grounded the fantastical elements—particularly Marcellus’s intelligence—in tangible reality, making the interspecies friendship feel more plausible and emotionally impactful.
Critics and viewers alike have commended how these authentic locations enhance the film’s themes. The misty shores and gentle tides of Deep Cove mirror Tova’s inner emotional landscape, while the bustling yet serene Vancouver Aquarium becomes a character in its own right—a place of wonder that bridges human solitude with the remarkable intelligence of the natural world. By grounding a story of loss and rediscovery in real places, the production team created a visually poetic experience that feels both specific and universally relatable.
Ultimately, the filming locations of Remarkably Bright Creatures demonstrate the power of thoughtful location scouting in elevating a narrative. What could have been a generic studio production instead became a love letter to coastal communities, marine life, and the quiet magic of everyday connections. As audiences stream the film on Netflix, many are inspired to seek out these British Columbia gems, turning a fictional tale into a subtle tourism boost for Vancouver and its environs. In blending real-world beauty with heartfelt storytelling, the adaptation not only honours the novel’s spirit but also invites viewers to see the extraordinary in the ordinary places around us.
