Netflix and Academy Award® winner Cillian Murphy are teaming up again for Steve, a stirring drama set to premiere in select theaters on September 19, 2025, before landing on the streamer October 3.
Directed by Tim Mielants and written by Max Porter, the film adapts Porter’s Sunday Times bestseller Shy into an intimate, emotionally charged character study. Alongside Murphy, the cast includes Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, Emily Watson, and a strong ensemble of rising talent.
A Pivotal Day That Changes Everything
Set in the mid-90s, Steve follows headteacher Steve (Cillian Murphy) as he navigates a single, life-altering day at a last-chance reform school. The institution, home to some of society’s most vulnerable and volatile young people, is on the brink of closure.
As Steve fights to preserve the school’s future, he’s also wrestling with his own mental health. His struggle unfolds alongside the story of Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a teen grappling with a history of trauma, impulses toward self-destruction, and a fragile hope for something better.
Watch the Trailer
The Heart of Steve: Hope in a Harsh World
Murphy’s portrayal promises a layered performance, a man shouldering responsibility for both his students’ futures and his own fragile stability.
The story is as much about the institution as it is about the people within it. Shy’s journey mirrors the uncertainty of adolescence in an unforgiving world, while Steve’s internal battles highlight the cost of carrying other people’s burdens.
Creative Team Behind the Film
- Director: Tim Mielants (The Terror, Peaky Blinders)
- Writer: Max Porter (Shy, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers)
- Producers: Alan Moloney, Cillian Murphy, Tina Pawlik
- Executive Producer: Max Porter
- Music By: Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow (Ex Machina, Devs)
The collaboration between Mielants and Murphy reunites a creative partnership first seen in Peaky Blinders, adding familiarity and trust to a challenging narrative. Porter’s own adaptation of his novel ensures the emotional core remains intact.
Cast Highlights
Alongside Murphy and Lycurgo, the cast includes:
Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo, Emily Watson, Douggie McMeekin, Youssef Kerkour, Luke Ayres, Joshua J Parker, Araloyin Oshunremi, Tut Nyuot, Tom Moya, Ahmed Ismail, Joshua Barry, Archie Fisher, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Priyanga Burford, George Fouracres, Marcus Garvey, Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis, and Roger Allam.
Why Cillian Murphy’s Steve Deserves Your Attention
With its condensed timeline, high emotional stakes, and grounded performances, Steve is positioned to resonate with audiences who appreciated the intimacy of films like The Father or Manchester by the Sea.
Murphy’s recent run of acclaimed roles, capped by his Oscar win for Oppenheimer, adds extra weight to this project. The theatrical release window before streaming also signals confidence from Netflix in the film’s awards potential.
Final Thoughts
Steve isn’t just a drama about a school in crisis, it’s about the intersection of personal fragility, institutional failure, and the stubborn hope that things can change. With Cillian Murphy at the center, expect a performance that balances quiet intensity with deep empathy.
The Poster
