Netflix Reveals New Reimagining Of Cinderella That Will Flip Your Perspective On Wicked Step-Sisters

A royal ball. A lost glass slipper. A magical midnight deadline.

These are staple elements of the Cinderella story that have enchanted fairy tale fans for years. Now, Steps from Netflix Animation Studios is showing audiences Cinderella’s not-so-evil stepsisters in a new light.

The new spin, from directors Alyce Tzue (Student Academy Awards gold medal winner) and John Ripa (co-director of Raya and the Last Dragon), features the voices of Ali Wong (Beef) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) in the title roles.

Scroll on for everything else to know about Steps.

What is Steps about?
Think you know Cinderella’s “evil” stepsisters? Think again! When misunderstood Lilith (Wong) is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot (Hsu) into a frog and allows the kingdom to fall into 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 fairy tale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily ever after.

Tzue emphasizes that the tale is mainly one of siblings with contrasting personalities. She tells Netflix, “This story is, at its core, about two very different sisters — one who fits perfectly into this fairy tale 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.”

The story is largely what drew Ripa to Steps early on. “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,” he says, adding, “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.”

Who is the team behind Steps?
In addition to Wong and Hsu lending their voices to Cinderella’s sisters, and Tzue and Ripa directing the film, Steps is produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, and Kim Lessing.