Steps: Netflix’s New Animated Cinderella Movie Flips the Fairy Tale Upside Down

Netflix’s Steps Reimagines the Classic Cinderella Story

What if Cinderella’s so-called evil stepsisters were never the real villains of the story?

Netflix Animation Studios is turning one of the world’s most recognizable fairy tales upside down with Steps, an upcoming animated fantasy-adventure movie that shifts the spotlight from Cinderella to her misunderstood stepsisters. Featuring a star-studded voice cast, a magical kingdom, unexpected villains, and an original soundtrack, the film promises a fresh and entertaining take on the familiar Cinderella story.

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The official trailer, released in October 2026, introduces a world where the traditional lines between heroes and villains are not as clear as they first appear. Rather than simply retelling the story of a young woman who finds her happily-ever-after, Steps explores sisterhood, identity, belonging, and the possibility that everyone deserves a second chance.

Directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, the film is scheduled to premiere globally on Netflix on November 20, 2026.

Watch the official trailer and read Netflix’s announcement on Tudum.

What Is Steps About?

At the heart of Steps is a familiar fairy-tale world featuring a royal ball, a magical midnight deadline, and Cinderella’s legendary glass slipper. However, this time, the story takes a very different direction.

The film follows Lilith and Margot, Cinderella’s stepsisters, who have long been portrayed as jealous and cruel characters in traditional versions of the fairy tale. In this new interpretation, the sisters are given their own personalities, motivations, and emotional struggles.

Lilith, voiced by Ali Wong, is tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow. In an attempt to change her circumstances, she steals the Fairy Godmother’s magical wand and disrupts the royal ball alongside her sister, Margot, voiced by Stephanie Hsu.

Their actions have unexpected consequences. The kingdom falls into danger when Priscilla, a scheming character voiced by Nikki Glaser, seizes the opportunity to take control.

Lilith must eventually work with Cinderella, voiced by Amanda Seyfried, to confront the growing threat. Their adventure includes dangerous enemies, biker trolls, and a journey through the mysterious Screaming Woods.

Yet the film’s most important challenge may not be saving the kingdom. It is repairing the relationship between two sisters who have spent years seeing each other as rivals.

According to Netflix’s official synopsis, Steps combines comedy, fantasy, and adventure while exploring a new perspective on the classic Cinderella narrative.

Meet the Voice Cast of Steps

One of the biggest attractions of Steps is its impressive collection of actors, comedians, and entertainers lending their voices to the animated characters.

• Ali Wong as Lilith: Wong voices Cinderella’s rebellious stepsister, who wants to escape the shadow of the traditional fairy-tale heroine.
• Stephanie Hsu as Margot: Hsu voices Lilith’s sister, bringing another perspective to the complicated family dynamic.
• Amanda Seyfried as Cinderella: Seyfried voices a more layered version of the iconic princess, who must work with her stepsisters during the adventure.
• Nikki Glaser as Priscilla: Glaser voices a manipulative antagonist who seeks power over the kingdom.
• Daniel Radcliffe as the Prince: Radcliffe lends his voice to the film’s unconventional prince.
• Young Mazino as Gef: Mazino voices an unexpected character who adds another dimension to the fantasy adventure.
• Peter Dinklage as Roderick: Dinklage voices a dangerous character connected to Priscilla.
• Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother: Midler brings a different interpretation to the magical figure traditionally associated with Cinderella’s transformation.
• Damian Priest as Cracktor: The WWE Superstar voices a formidable troll overlord.

The combination of comedy performers and established dramatic actors gives the film the potential to appeal to a broad audience, including families and viewers who enjoy unconventional fairy-tale adaptations.

Who Is Directing Steps?

Steps is directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa.

Tzue is a Student Academy Award gold medal winner, while Ripa is known for his work as a co-director on Disney’s animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon.

Their collaboration brings together a filmmaker with a distinctive storytelling perspective and an experienced animation director.

The film is produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, and Kim Lessing. Its screenplay was written by Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, and Felicia Ho, based on a story developed by Tramer, Madejski, Schwartz, Ho, Riki Lindhome, and Kate Micucci.

The creative team aims to make the familiar fairy-tale characters more complicated and relatable, moving beyond the traditional division between a perfect heroine and supposedly evil stepsisters.

Why Steps Is More Than Another Cinderella Retelling

Fairy tales have been adapted countless times for films, television, animation, and theatre. What makes Steps particularly interesting is its decision to question the original story’s familiar point of view.

1. The stepsisters finally get their own story

In many traditional versions of Cinderella, the stepsisters exist mainly to create obstacles for the heroine. Their personalities and motivations often receive little attention beyond jealousy and cruelty.

Steps changes that perspective by making Lilith and Margot central characters. The audience gets to explore their experiences rather than judging them solely through Cinderella’s story.

This approach raises an intriguing question: What happens when characters traditionally presented as villains are finally allowed to explain themselves?

2. Asian sisters take centre stage

Director Alyce Tzue has explained that she wanted to shift the fairy-tale spotlight toward the Asian sisters and explore why they were not the ones who received the magic.

This perspective adds another dimension to the film’s themes of identity, representation, and belonging. Rather than simply reproducing familiar fairy-tale roles, Steps creates space for characters who may have previously been overlooked.

3. The film challenges the idea of good versus evil

The film does not simply replace Cinderella with a new perfect heroine. Instead, its characters are presented as complicated individuals with different needs, weaknesses, and desires.

Lilith makes mistakes, Cinderella has her own flaws, and even the Fairy Godmother receives a less conventional interpretation.

The result is a story that invites viewers to reconsider their assumptions about who deserves sympathy, forgiveness, and a happy ending.

4. Sisterhood is at the centre of the adventure

Although Steps includes magic, villains, and fantastical action, its emotional foundation is the relationship between sisters.

Lilith and Margot must confront their differences, while Lilith’s partnership with Cinderella challenges years of rivalry.

The film’s central message is that people who appear very different may have more in common than they realize.

JENNIE Leads the Steps Soundtrack With a New Song

Another major talking point surrounding Steps is its music.

JENNIE, the BLACKPINK superstar, contributes a new song titled “Someone to Hold,” which accompanies an emotional high point in the film. The track is part of the movie’s musical lineup, giving the project an additional connection to contemporary pop music and global music fandom.

The soundtrack also features new music from Rose Gray, Amanda Seyfried, and EMEI, alongside an original film score composed by Kris Bowers.

The announced songs include:

• “Someone to Hold” — JENNIE: A song centred on connection and emotional support.
• “Smile and a Song” — Rose Gray and Amanda Seyfried: A musical moment associated with Cinderella and the people of Alouette.
• “Meet Me on the Dance Floor” — Rose Gray: A dance track featured during the palace-ball sequence.
• “Understudy” — EMEI: An original pop song connected to the film’s themes of being overlooked and misunderstood.

Kris Bowers, known for his work on projects including Bridgerton, The Wild Robot, and The Color Purple, composed the film’s score. The music was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

JENNIE’s involvement is particularly notable because it connects a major animated release with the international K-pop audience. Her contribution may also help introduce the film to music fans who might not otherwise follow new animated releases.

The soundtrack announcement was highlighted by Netflix Tudum on October 15, 2026.

When Will Steps Be Released on Netflix?

Netflix has scheduled Steps for a global streaming premiere on November 20, 2026.

Here are the essential details:

• Title: Steps
• Release year: 2026
• Release date: November 20, 2026
• Platform: Netflix
• Format: Animated feature film
• Genre: Fantasy, adventure, comedy, and family entertainment
• Directors: Alyce Tzue and John Ripa
• Original language: English
• Announced runtime: Approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes
• Soundtrack: Featuring JENNIE, Rose Gray, Amanda Seyfried, and EMEI, with a score by Kris Bowers

Although Steps may be described casually as a new Netflix animation, it is a feature-length animated movie rather than an episodic animated series.

Viewers can check Netflix’s official Steps page on Tudum for updates and the latest release information.

Why Animation Fans Should Watch Steps

The release of Steps comes at a time when Netflix continues to invest in animated films aimed at different audiences. The success of projects such as KPop Demon Hunters, Nimona, The Sea Beast, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio demonstrates the range of animation available on the platform.

Netflix has also highlighted animation as a major part of its global entertainment strategy, spanning family films, adult animation, anime, and other forms of animated storytelling.

Within that landscape, Steps stands out for combining a recognizable fairy tale with a modern character-driven approach.

Its appeal may extend beyond younger viewers. Adults who grew up with traditional Cinderella stories may be curious to see how the film changes the familiar characters, while younger audiences may enjoy its fantasy creatures, comedy, music, and action.

The presence of performers such as Ali Wong, Stephanie Hsu, Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Radcliffe, and Bette Midler also gives the movie a broad entertainment profile.

Whether its fresh perspective becomes a new favourite among fairy-tale fans will ultimately depend on the finished film, but the trailer and soundtrack announcements have already provided several reasons to pay attention.

Final Thoughts: A New Kind of Happily Ever After

With Steps, Netflix is revisiting a classic fairy tale by asking a simple but powerful question: What if the characters we have always considered villains were never the whole story?

By bringing Lilith and Margot into the spotlight, the film explores the complicated relationships behind familiar fairy-tale labels. Its themes of sisterhood, inclusion, identity, and belonging give the magical adventure an emotional foundation, while its high-profile voice cast and original soundtrack add to its appeal.

The film also offers a fresh opportunity to rethink Cinderella herself—not as a flawless heroine, but as a character who can grow through cooperation and understanding.

Steps arrives on Netflix on November 20, 2026. For fans of animated fantasy, modern fairy tales, and stories that challenge traditional ideas of good and evil, it is one of the upcoming animated releases worth keeping on the watchlist.

What do you think about Netflix’s new take on Cinderella? Are you excited to see Lilith and Margot become the heroes of their own story? Share your thoughts in the comments.