Netflix’s ‘Steps’ Releases First Trailer Featuring Cinderella’s Stepsisters

In recent years, fairy tale reimaginings have emerged as a popular trend in animation, with studios increasingly eager to turn familiar narratives on their heads and focus on characters typically seen as villains. Netflix Animation has been particularly active in this arena, building on the success of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ to create an ambitious lineup of original features.

The studio’s latest venture takes aim at one of the most cherished fairy tales of all time. ‘Steps,’ an animated musical fantasy comedy inspired by ‘Cinderella,’ has been generating excitement since its major presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival earlier this year, where filmmakers showcased the project’s Y2K-inspired villains and giant biker trolls.

That excitement has now reached new heights. Netflix has officially unveiled the first full trailer for ‘Steps,’ along with new key art and a collection of stills, confirming that the animated feature will premiere globally on November 20. The trailer indicates that this isn’t the ‘Cinderella’ story audiences expect, as stepsister Lilith directly tells viewers they “deserve to know the real story,” promising it’s “a good one.”

Think Cinderella’s stepsisters were the villains? Think again. STEPS, a new animated film, premieres November 20.

Starring Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, with Peter Dinklage, and Bette Midler. pic.twitter.com/AXqy7GqsAM

— Netflix (@netflix) September 17, 2026

According to Netflix’s official synopsis, Lilith, voiced by Ali Wong, steals the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and takes over the Royal Ball with her sister Margot, voiced by Stephanie Hsu, inadvertently disrupting the ‘Cinderella’ story as everyone knows it. This chaos leads to the rise of Priscilla, a scheming villain played by Nikki Glaser, who seizes the throne in the aftermath.

As a result, Lilith must join forces with Cinderella herself, voiced by Amanda Seyfried, to fend off sword-wielding henchmen and biker trolls while navigating the perilous Screaming Woods on a quest to save the kingdom. The trailer suggests that the stakes extend beyond the throne, with the sisters’ relationship also hanging in the balance throughout their adventure.

In addition to its central trio, ‘Steps’ features a star-studded supporting cast, including Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother, along with Daniel Radcliffe, Peter Dinklage, Young Mazino, and WWE superstar Damian Priest rounding out the ensemble. This mix of comedic and dramatic talent reflects the film’s balance between humor and genuine emotional stakes between the two lead sisters.

Directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, the film is produced by Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions alongside Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing. The project originated from an idea by the Garfunkel and Oates duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, first announced back in 2021, and has evolved significantly throughout its lengthy development process.

Adding to the film’s impressive pedigree, Oscar-winning composer Kris Bowers, known for his work on ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ and ‘The Color Purple,’ crafted the film’s score, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. This level of musical craftsmanship indicates that Netflix is treating ‘Steps’ as a significant release rather than just a minor holiday distraction.

Interestingly, despite its original musical roots tracing back to its Garfunkel and Oates origins, the film’s directors have noted that the project has shifted away from a traditional musical format as production progressed, placing greater emphasis on its action-comedy elements instead.

‘Steps’ is part of Netflix Animation’s increasingly ambitious lineup, which has expanded rapidly following ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ with upcoming features like ‘In Waves’ and Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ also on the horizon. As a standalone film rather than an ongoing series, ‘Steps’ is designed as a complete, self-contained story, although any potential sequel would depend heavily on audience reception once it debuts on the platform.

With its November release date confirmed and a full trailer finally providing fans with a glimpse of its tone and stakes, ‘Steps’ appears poised to become one of the season’s standout animated releases. Whether it can capture the cultural momentum of Netflix’s recent animated successes will be revealed once it arrives.

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