‘Steps’ Stars Unite at New York World Premiere for Netflix’s Cinderella Remix
Fairy tale reimaginings have undergone a massive creative resurgence in modern animation, with studios eager to subvert legendary fables for contemporary audiences. The long-standing archetype of wicked relatives and pristine heroines is receiving its freshest subversion yet as anticipation peaks for the animated musical comedy ‘Steps‘. With an illustrious creative team and an ensemble packed with Hollywood royalty, the upcoming feature is positioning itself as one of the most exciting animated events of the holiday season.
Originally conceived from an idea by comedy duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, the story fundamentally reframes the traditional lore of Charles Perrault’s ‘Cinderella’. Helmed by directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, the animated production shifts the spotlight away from the spotless ballroom heroine to examine her misunderstood stepsisters, Lilith and Margot. Rather than rehashing familiar wicked antagonist tropes, the film reimagines the sibling dynamic with humor, heart, and high-energy fantasy stakes.
That collaborative spirit was on full display in Manhattan when Bette Midler, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Ali Wong, and Daniel Radcliffe stepped out together for the world premiere of ‘Steps’ in New York. The five core stars gathered on the purple carpet at the landmark event, posing side by side to celebrate the debut of their animated adventure. Their stylish reunion immediately captured the internet’s attention, spotlighting an extraordinary voice cast that spans multiple generations of stage and screen luminaries.
In the feature, Ali Wong leads the charge as Lilith, an angsty outcast sister who disrupts the royal order after seizing a magical wand from Bette Midler’s Fairy Godmother. When the mishap accidentally transforms Stephanie Hsu’s Margot into a frog and hands control of the kingdom to a villainous rival, Lilith must form an uneasy truce with Cinderella. Amanda Seyfried lends her vocal talents to this modernized version of the fabled princess, ditching antiquated passive perfection for a heroine with real emotional texture.
Director Alyce Tzue emphasized how crucial Seyfried’s grounding presence was to reshaping such an iconic storybook figure in a statement to Netflix Tudum. “Amanda has this incredible ability to make her characters specific and relatable, and we absolutely needed that when taking on a character that’s as legendary as Cinderella,” Tzue explained. “We wanted to create a modern heroine complete with flaws and coping mechanisms, and Amanda immediately understood the task.”
Midler injects her signature comedic flair into the Fairy Godmother, playing a well-meaning yet eccentric figure whose meddling sets off a wild domino effect across the realm. Meanwhile, Daniel Radcliffe brings a quirky and big-hearted humor to the Prince, joined by Peter Dinklage as Roderick, Nikki Glaser as Priscilla, and Young Mazino as Gef. Together, the talented cast navigates a fantastical landscape populated by biker trolls, sinister henchmen, and perilous obstacles.
Produced by Amy Poehler, Kim Lessing, and Jane Hartwell, ‘Steps’ represents a landmark release for Netflix Animation Studios across its production hubs in Vancouver and Sydney. The animated spectacle is further elevated by an energetic soundtrack supervised by Grammy-nominated songwriter Justin Tranter, complemented by an orchestral score from Oscar winner Kris Bowers. With infectious pop sensibilities and emotional sisterhood at its core, the project builds on the streamer’s growing pedigree in high-profile feature animation.
As the cast’s glamorous New York premiere appearance proves, excitement is surging ahead of the movie’s imminent worldwide rollout. Audiences will not have to wait long to experience the fractured fairy tale for themselves, as ‘Steps’ will arrive in select movie theaters on November 13, 2026, before making its official streaming premiere on Netflix on November 20, 2026.
