Netflix Unveils ‘Steps,’ Its Feature Twist On The Cinderella Story, Coming In 2026 From Directors Alyce Tzue And John Ripa

Netflix Animation Studios has announced its next original animated feature, Steps, which will hit the platform in 2026.

Directed by Alyce Tzue, a Student Academy Award gold medalist (Soar), and John Ripa, who served as co-director on Raya and the Last Dragon, Steps reimagines the Cinderella myth from the perspective of the “evil” stepsisters, who may not be so evil after all.

Ali Wong voices Lilith, a misunderstood troublemaker who accidentally turns her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog after being blamed for chaos at the Royal Ball. With the kingdom suddenly under the control of a prince-obsessed antagonist, Lilith teams up with Cinderella and a romantically surprising troll to restore order and reclaim her own happily-ever-after.

In a release, Tzue explained:

This story is, at its core, about two very different sisters — one who fits perfectly into this fairytale kingdom and one who doesn’t — realizing they’re more alike than different. 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. 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.

Ripa added:

When I was introduced to Steps, I saw that it contained incredible artistry, beautiful storytelling, and most of all, that it had something important to say to the world. It’s like nothing else I’ve worked on in my 30-year career in animation. Steps also has an incredible first-time filmmaker in Alyce Tzue, who brings a totally unique voice and point of view. She’s championed this story about belonging that I’ve found to be both resonant and inspirational, and I feel privileged to be by her side on this journey.

The feature’s producers include Jane Hartwell, Amy Poehler, and Kim Lessing.

Steps joins a growing lineup of original animated features from Netflix, which includes hits and award-winners such as KPop Demon Hunters, the streamer’s most-watched film to date, Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix’s most recent release In Your Dreams, Nimona, and The Sea Beast, among others.