It’s the story behind the story of one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time: Introducing the trailer for Steps, the new Netflix Animation Studios spin on the Cinderella tale.
Directed by Alyce Tzue, a Student Academy Award gold medal winner, and John Ripa (Raya and the Last Dragon), Steps offers a fresh take on the classic good-versus-bad dynamic: Think you know Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) and her “evil” stepsisters — Lilith (Ali Wong) and Margot (Stephanie Hsu)? Think again. “I wanted to flip the fairy tale that usually focuses on the protagonist who gets the magic, and put that lens on these Asian sisters, who resonated with me, and ask, ‘Why didn’t they get the magic?’” says Tzue.
The film teams Lilith and Margot with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) for the adventure of a lifetime, all while keeping one crucial fairy-tale objective in sight: getting the glass slipper onto the right foot. “This story is, at its core, about very different sisters realizing that they’re more alike than different,” says Tzue. “I wanted to create a film for everyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong.”
Wong, Seyfried, and Hsu are joined by a stacked cast: Daniel Radcliffe plays the story’s unconventional Prince, who is determined to find true love even as his parents rush him into marriage. “It was important to us that we retain a true fairy tale,” says producer Jane Hartwell. “Daniel plays the Prince in such a charming way that you can believe Cinderella falls in love with him in such a short amount of time.”
Nikki Glaser is Priscilla, a conniving bully who will stop at nothing to gain power and take over the kingdom. Young Mazino plays the unexpected heartthrob, Gef, and Peter Dinklage is Roderick, Priscilla’s murderous manny. WWE Superstar Damian Priest brings his heavyweight voice to the character of Cracktor, a troll overlord. “Having this cast is a dream come true. Each one of them has influenced their characters in a really great way,” says Ripa. “Getting a chance to add to this legacy and say something that is very current for today was an honor.”
Finally, there’s none other than the iconic Bette Midler in the role of the Fairy Godmother, who gets an entirely new makeover herself. “The beloved Fairy Godmother, the wholesome Fairy Godmother — the one with all the good intentions — has been around for a long, long time. This particular version of the Fairy Godmother has good intentions, but she’s a little bit of a bumbler, and she’s a little bit of a schemer,” says Midler. “A lot of her story is tempered by the fact that she has other needs and desires. She does have a life of her own, and excuse me, while I live my life.”
In other words, Steps pulls back the layers on all the characters we’ve known and loved for millennia. “We hope that audiences will come away with the idea that no one is completely good or completely evil,” says producer Kim Lessing. “Once you get past the surface, you’ll realize we’re all nuanced, strange people who deserve a happily ever after.”
The offscreen talent is just as dazzling: Amy Poehler, Hartwell, and Lessing produce Steps, which features brand-new music from JENNIE, Rose Gray, EMEI, and Amanda Seyfried, written and produced by Justin Tranter. The film’s score is composed by Academy Award winner Kris Bowers. Pre-save the soundtrack here.
Watch the trailer above — and get ready to stream Steps on Nov. 20.
