The Truth About Where ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ Takes Place and the Real Coastline

‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ has finally made its debut on Netflix, captivating audiences with its poignant narrative centered around an aging widow, a grumpy giant Pacific octopus, and the small coastal town that holds their secrets. Sally Field stars as Tova Sullivan in director Olivia Newman’s adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s acclaimed debut novel, with the misty shoreline serving as a character in its own right.

This enchanting backdrop has prompted fans to delve into the actual setting of the story and the filming locations. The answer is a delightful blend of two places that share the same coastal charm.

Van Pelt’s novel is set in a fictional town named Sowell Bay, a quaint coastal community nestled along Washington State’s Puget Sound. The narrative follows Tova Sullivan, a seventy-year-old widow who works as a night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where the most extraordinary resident is Marcellus, a highly intelligent giant Pacific octopus.

Sowell Bay is depicted as a tight-knit community where the best dining option is a deli attached to the local grocery store, and everyone knows each other’s business. Van Pelt, who grew up in Tacoma, Washington, has shared how ferry rides through the San Juan Islands and views of the Cascade Mountains inspired the world she created.

The aquarium is the emotional heart of the story, where Tova grieves, Cameron Cassmore seeks his long-lost father, and Marcellus attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding Tova’s son, Erik, who disappeared at sea years ago.

Before Netflix came into the picture, readers familiar with the Pacific Northwest speculated about the real-life inspiration behind the setting. Many locals identify Anacortes in Skagit County, Washington, as the real-world counterpart to the fictional Sowell Bay, despite the town being a product of Van Pelt’s imagination.

Although the story is set in Washington, the film was primarily shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, with its stunning coastal landscapes serving as a stand-in for the American shoreline just south of the border.

Newman, who previously adapted ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, began filming in Vancouver in March of last year, working from a screenplay she co-wrote with John Whittington. The geography was a perfect match, as the misty harbors, evergreen forests, and serene inlets that characterize Puget Sound extend seamlessly into coastal British Columbia.

In addition to Vancouver, the crew ventured to nearby communities for additional scenes. The small residential area of Lions Bay, situated between Vancouver and Squamish, was one such location, while the city of Maple Ridge also served as a minor filming site for the film directed by Newman.

Deep Cove, a picturesque neighborhood in North Vancouver, stood in for much of Sowell Bay. The film showcases Deep Cove’s charming marina and coastal beauty, with scenes filmed along Gallant Avenue, where local shops were transformed into locations like Olympus Realty and Avery’s paddleboard shop.

For the aquarium where Marcellus resides, the filmmakers ingeniously utilized the Deep Cove Yacht Club’s exterior, which was digitally transformed into the Sowell Bay Aquarium for the film.

Many interior shots of the aquarium, including scenes featuring jellyfish tanks, were filmed at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, which is Canada’s largest public aquarium, housing around sixty-five thousand marine animals.

Importantly, the filmmakers had a real-life inspiration for their cantankerous octopus star. While Marcellus is a fictional character, footage of Agnetha, a resident giant Pacific octopus at the Vancouver Aquarium, was recorded for the film. The reflective dock scenes were filmed at the Deep Cove Government Dock, with small props added to enhance the intimate, lived-in feel of the docks.

Field has openly expressed her affection for the filming location. She remarked that coastal Vancouver felt like one of the characters in the story, and although she loves New York, she considers Vancouver to be the city that holds her heart. She even humorously suggested that she wished Canada would adopt her, calling the area a magnificent place in the world.

However, the Pacific Northwest weather was not always forgiving. Field recounted to Gold Derby the challenges of filming a crucial pier scene in harsh conditions, describing how she was drenched from head to toe, with water streaming down her face and glasses, while the Canadian crew rushed in between takes with blankets and hot water bottles.

That dedication shines through on screen. The Pacific Northwest depicted in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ feels both lonely and vibrant, capturing the essence of the atmosphere Van Pelt envisioned when she first wrote about a widow, an octopus, and a town filled with secrets.

Now that you’re aware that the real Deep Cove serves as the double for Sowell Bay, would you consider making the journey to North Vancouver to visit Tova’s dock and Ethan’s storefront, or does the enchantment only come alive when Marcellus is in the tank?