Cinderella’s “evil” stepsisters are finally getting their side of the story, with Netflix dropping the first full trailer for its new animated film Steps ahead of its November 20 release.
The twist on the classic fairytale stars Beef co-stars Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu as sisters Lilith and Margot, with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried voicing Cinderella herself.
The film lands on Netflix in Australia on the same day as the rest of the world, with the trailer’s tagline promising: “At midnight, we ride.”
According to Netflix, the story picks up with Lilith (Wong) tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow and stealing the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand to hijack the Royal Ball alongside her sister Margot (Hsu).
The stunt breaks the Cinderella story as we know it, handing the kingdom of Alouette to the villainous Priscilla, voiced by comedian Nikki Glaser, who swoops in and snatches the throne.
Lilith is then forced to team up with Cinderella to fight biker trolls, outrun henchmen and escape the Screaming Woods on a quest to save the kingdom – and, as the official synopsis puts it, “most importantly, their relationship”.
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The supporting cast is stacked. Daniel Radcliffe voices what Netflix describes as an unconventional Prince, Young Mazino – Wong’s other Beef co-star – plays a troll named Gef, and Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage voices Roderick, a “murderous man-nanny”.
Bette Midler plays the Fairy Godmother, and she has warned fans not to expect the wholesome version they grew up with.
“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,” Midler told Netflix’s Tudum.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this film! And I’m thrilled to be with this cast.”
Rounding out the cast is WWE wrestler Damian Priest as the intimidating Cracktor, who told Tudum he enjoyed channelling his ring energy into making the character “intense and larger-than-life”.
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The music is a drawcard in its own right. Blackpink star Jennie has written and performed “Someone to Hold”, a ballad Netflix says soundtracks the film’s emotional climax – and her first song for an animated film. And yes, that’s Jennie from, ‘My friends are saying, “Shut up, Jennie, just get in the car.”’
“I am so excited to join the Steps family, and it was really fun making my first song for an animated film,” Jennie told Tudum.
Seyfried also sings in the film, performing “Smile and a Song”, co-written by British pop artist Rose Gray, while the original score comes from Oscar-winning Bridgerton composer Kris Bowers and was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Steps is directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, the co-director of Raya and the Last Dragon, and is produced by Amy Poehler through her company Paper Kite Productions.
Tzue told Tudum the film is deeply personal, describing it as a story about “two very different sisters” who realise they are more alike than different.
“I wanted to create a film for everyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong – and show how a single act of kindness can change everything,” she said.
The film joins Netflix’s animated slate alongside KPop Demon Hunters, which the streamer says is its most popular film ever, Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pinocchio and the Australian-made Back to the Outback.
Steps premieres November 20, only on Netflix.
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