Amanda Seyfried voices a new take on Cinderella in Netflix animated film Steps

Amanda Seyfried is stepping into a familiar fairytale role with a twist, joining the voice cast of Netflix’s upcoming animated film Steps as Cinderella.

Set for release later in 2026, the film offers a fresh spin on the classic story – this time shifting the focus away from Cinderella and onto her so-called “evil” stepsisters. Ali Wong voices Lilith, a misunderstood outcast who accidentally throws the kingdom into chaos after stealing a magic wand, while Stephanie Hsu plays her sister Margot, who is rather inconveniently turned into a frog.

Caught in the middle is Seyfried’s Cinderella, who teams up with Lilith – and an unexpected troll companion – to try and fix the mess and restore some order to the fairytale world.

First-look images suggest a colourful, playful take on the story, leaning into comedy and adventure while rethinking some of its most familiar characters. According to director Alyce Tzue, Seyfried was key to shaping this version of Cinderella, bringing “an incredible ability to make her characters specific and relatable” to a role that audiences already know so well. Tzue added that the aim was to create “a modern heroine complete with flaws and coping mechanisms,” with Seyfried delivering a performance that is “hilarious and heartbreaking and, most importantly, refreshingly human.”

Co-director John Ripa echoed that sentiment, describing Seyfried as “an absolute joy to work with” and praising the depth she brings to the character. “Her process of honing in on emotions, the control she has over her voice – it all comes together to give Cinderella a depth and humour we could’ve never imagined,” he said.

Behind the scenes, the film is directed by Tzue and Raya and the Last Dragon co-director Ripa, with Amy Poehler among the producers. Animation is being handled by Netflix Animation Studios across its Vancouver and Sydney locations.

With a strong voice cast and a concept that flips expectations, Steps looks set to offer a lighter, more irreverent take on a well-known tale.

The editorial unit

Steps does not have a release date yet.