Full Breakdown
Netflix’s “Steps” Casts Star Power for Its In-House Animated Reimagining of Cinderella
7/16/2026, 11:39:50 AM
Core Event: Star-Studded Voice Cast Announced
Netflix announced that Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino and Peter Dinklage have joined the voice cast of its upcoming animated feature “Steps.” Radcliffe will voice the Prince, Mazino will portray Gef (“The Heartthrob”), and Dinklage will play Roderick (“The Muscle”). The film also stars Ali Wong (Lilith), Stephanie Hsu (Margot), Amanda Seyfried (Cinderella), Bette Midler (Fairy Godmother) and Nikki Glaser (Priscilla). The movie is slated to stream worldwide on November 20, 2026.
Background & Context: Netflix’s First Fully In-House Animated Feature
“Steps” marks the first feature fully produced inside Netflix Animation Studios. The project began as a musical before shifting to a non-musical comedy that flips the classic Cinderella narrative by centering the “evil” stepsisters. Directors Alyce Tzue (Student Academy Award gold-medalist) and John Ripa (co-director of *Raya and the Last Dragon*) lead the effort, with production overseen by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing for Paper Kite Productions.
Key Figures & Groups
- Directors: Alyce Tzue, John Ripa
- Producers: Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, Kim Lessing (Paper Kite Productions)
- Screenwriters: Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho
- Story by: Tramer, Madejski, Schwartz, Ho, Riki Lindhome, Kate Miccuci
- Principal Cast: Daniel Radcliffe (Prince), Young Mazino (Gef), Peter Dinklage (Roderick), Ali Wong (Lilith), Stephanie Hsu (Margot), Amanda Seyfried (Cinderella), Bette Midler (Fairy Godmother), Nikki Glaser (Priscilla)
Data & Statistics
- Release date: November 20, 2026 (global Netflix streaming)
- Production milestone: First Netflix Animation Studios feature produced entirely in-house
Why It Matters / Impact
“Steps” seeks to subvert traditional fairy-tale archetypes, giving depth to characters historically cast as villains and offering a “Prince” who is “quirky, big-hearted” rather than a conventional hero. By assembling a cast that includes high-profile actors from *Harry Potter*, *Game of Thrones* and *The Last of Us*, Netflix signals its commitment to compete with major theatrical animation studios while expanding representation through diverse talent such as Young Mazino.
Official Statements & Responses
Directors emphasized the film’s aim to “break the fairy-tale mold” by making every character three-dimensional and worthy of a happy ending. Tzue highlighted the personal resonance of the story, noting her own feelings of outsiderhood as inspiration. Ripa described the Prince as a departure from traditional portrayals, stressing the importance of “quirky, big-hearted humor.” Both directors praised the newly added talent, asserting that the trio of Radcliffe, Dinklage and Mazino elevates the project’s creative ambition.
Criticism & Opposition
No critical or dissenting commentary was reported in the available sources.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently list the November 20, 2026 release date and the same principal cast and crew; no discrepancies were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our dream was for our fairytale Prince to be unlike any Prince you’ve seen before, and Daniel made that dream come true.” — John Ripa, Director
- “Peter Dinklage is an immense talent, and we are so lucky to have him on the film.” — Alyce Tzue, Director
- “Gef is our unexpected heartthrob and one of our most beloved characters.” — Alyce Tzue, Director
- “It’s such a personal story for me because, growing up as an awkward, artsy Taiwanese kid in suburban New Jersey, I often felt like an outsider, like ‘happily ever after’ wasn’t meant for me.” — Alyce Tzue, Director
- “We feel incredibly lucky to have all three of these massive talents on our film.” — John Ripa, Director
