Every fairy tale has a villain. But what if the villains were never evil? That is the question at the heart of Steps, Netflix’s upcoming animated musical fantasy comedy — and with a brand-new official trailer released on October 15, 2026, the streamer has now confirmed the film premieres on November 20, 2026.
The story: Cinderella from the stepsisters’ side
Forget everything the fairy tale taught you. Steps tells the Cinderella story from the perspective of the so-called “evil” stepsisters — and it turns out they were never the villains of their own story.
Lilith (Ali Wong), one of the stepsisters, is tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow. She steals the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and, with her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu), hijacks the Royal Ball. The plan backfires spectacularly: the story breaks, Lilith accidentally turns Margot into a frog, and the kingdom falls under the control of Priscilla (Nikki Glaser), a prince-obsessed schemer who snatches the throne.
To fix what she broke, Lilith has to do the unthinkable — team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) herself. Their quest runs through biker trolls, evil henchmen and the Screaming Woods, and becomes as much about repairing the sisters’ fractured relationship as saving the kingdom. As the trailer puts it: sometimes, the real heroes aren’t the ones wearing glass slippers.
The all-star voice cast
Steps has assembled a voice cast that reads like an awards-season afterparty:
- Ali Wong as Lilith
- Stephanie Hsu as Margot
- Amanda Seyfried as Cinderella
- Nikki Glaser as Priscilla
- Daniel Radcliffe as the Prince
- Young Mazino as Gef
- Peter Dinklage as Roderick
- Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother
- Damian Priest as Cracktor
Behind the scenes: the people and the music
The film is co-directed by Alyce Tzue — a Student Academy Award gold-medal winner — and John Ripa, who served as co-director on Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. The idea originated with the Garfunkel and Oates duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, with a screenplay by Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz and Felicia Ho.
Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing produce through Paper Kite Productions, in a film made by Netflix Animation Studios — reportedly the first feature the studio has completed entirely from start to finish.
The music is another headline act. Oscar-winning composer Kris Bowers (The Wild Robot, King Richard) creates the original score, and the soundtrack — releasing the same day as the film — features a new song by BLACKPINK’s Jennie alongside four original songs by hitmaker Justin Tranter.
Release date and what to expect
- Official trailer: released October 15, 2026
- Netflix premiere: November 20, 2026, worldwide
- Genre: animated musical fantasy comedy
- Studio: Netflix Animation Studios / Paper Kite Productions
The timing is no accident. Steps is being positioned as Netflix’s big family release for the Thanksgiving and holiday season — the kind of four-quadrant title the streamer hopes becomes a perennial December rewatch.
What it means for Netflix Animation
Steps is a genuine milestone for Netflix Animation Studios: its first fully in-house feature, arriving from the studio that already delivered the phenomenon of KPop Demon Hunters. A success here would validate Netflix’s strategy of building animation hits that don’t need theatrical runs — and a strong Thanksgiving debut could make Steps a franchise starter, with the fairy-tale universe offering endless room for sequels told from other “villains'” points of view.
Frequently asked questions
When does Steps release on Netflix? Steps premieres worldwide on Netflix on November 20, 2026.
What is Netflix’s Steps about? It is a twist on Cinderella told from the stepsisters’ perspective. Lilith and Margot, tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow, steal the Fairy Godmother’s wand and accidentally hand the kingdom to a villain — then must team up with Cinderella to save it.
Who voices the characters in Steps? Ali Wong voices Lilith, Stephanie Hsu is Margot, Amanda Seyfried is Cinderella, Nikki Glaser is Priscilla, Daniel Radcliffe is the Prince, with Peter Dinklage, Bette Midler, Young Mazino and Damian Priest also in the cast.
Is Steps a musical? Yes — it is an animated musical fantasy comedy, with original songs including a new track by BLACKPINK’s Jennie and songs by Justin Tranter, plus a score by Kris Bowers.
Where can I watch the Steps trailer? Netflix released the official trailer on October 15, 2026; it is available on Netflix’s official channels.