Netflix has unveiled its long-awaited animated musical comedy feature Steps, a fresh and empathetic reimagination of the iconic Cinderella fairytale, slated for a 2026 global release.
Following the streamer’s recent voice cast confirmation and unveiling of the first-look image, the film has returned to the spotlight after five years of quiet development since its announcement in 2021. The voice cast is led by Ali Wong, a two-time Primetime Emmy winner known for Beef and Tuca & Bertie, and Stephanie Hsu, an Oscar nominee acclaimed for her roles in Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy. Both voice Cinderella’s seemingly evil stepsisters, Lilith and Margot respectively.
The plot of Steps begins with Lilith who is wrongly blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen wand, turning Margot into a frog. With the kingdom ruled by a tyrant, Lilith returns and teams up with Cinderella and a dreamy troll to save the kingdom, fix the fairytale and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily ever after.
Steps is helmed by Alyce Tzue, who won the 2015 Student Academy Awards Gold Medal for Animation with her short Soar, alongside John Ripa, who was the co-director of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. Jane Hartwell, Amy Poehler and Kim Lessing serve as producers for the upcoming project.
With Steps, Netflix continues its effort to retell classic tales from unexpected perspectives, marking a significant addition to the streamer’s expanding animation slate following the global success of KPop Demon Hunters.