Netflix Announces New Animated Feature ‘Steps,’ Starring Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu

 

“Steps,” an animated film and a revisionist take on the “Cinderella” fairy tale, has been officially announced by Netflix. In addition to setting a 2026 premiere window for the film, Netflix also announced that Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu will lead the voice cast. A first look image of the movie was also released, which can be viewed above.

According to the logline, the film will star Wong and Hsu as the Evil Stepsisters, traditionally villains in the Cinderella story, as they go on their own adventure. The logline reads: “Think you know Cinderella’s ‘evil’ stepsisters? Think again! When misunderstood Lilith (Ali Wong) is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl. Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella (and a surprisingly dreamy troll) to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after.”

he film will be directed by John Ripa, who co-directed “Raya and the Last Dragon” and Alyce Tzue, who received a Student Academy Award for the short film “Soar” and is making her feature directorial debut with the project. Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, and Kim Lessing produce the film.

“Steps” was first announced to be in development in 2021. At the time, the project had Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, comedians behind the musical comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates, slated to write original music for the film, with Lindhome expected to write the film’s screenplay. However, neither seems to be currently attached to the film going forward.

“Steps'” announcement comes at the tail end of a huge year for Netflix Animation, following the international success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” which has now become the biggest film in the streamer’s history and now seems to be the main contender to win Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars. Other recent releases from the streamer include the adult animated comedy “Fixed,” Roald Dahl adaptation “The Twits,” and the animated family comedy “In Your Dreams.”