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Netflix just dropped the first look of Cillian Murphy in Steve, and it’s already giving all the intense vibes. The film, based on Max Porter’s bestselling novella Shy, stars Murphy as Steve, a dedicated headteacher at a reform school for boys in the mid-90s, caught in the emotional crossfire of trying to hold his school together as it faces closure.
According to Deadline, the synopsis of the film reads,
Set in the mid-1990s, Steve follows a pivotal day in the life of the titular headteacher and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. As Steve fights to protect the school’s integrity and impending closure, he grapples with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve’s struggles, troubled teen Shy (Lycurgo) is caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.
Directed by Tim Mielants, Steve promises a gripping, heartfelt drama exploring the tough realities of leadership, youth, and redemption. With a cast including Jay Lycurgo, Tracey Ullman, and Emily Watson, this film is gearing up to be one of Netflix’s most talked-about releases.
Everything you need to know about Cillian Murphy's Steve
Cillian Murphy’s no stranger to bringing broken-but-beautiful characters to life if you've watched Oppenheimer or Peaky Blinders, but this one’s personal. Porter handed him a proof copy of Shy before it was even published, and Murphy said it broke his heart.
As Deadline reported, the actor was noted talking about the book that Steve is adapted from, where he said,
"Max gave me that book in a proof edition before he finished it, and again it just broke my heart. They're the sorts of things I love as a reader and as a performer, so I really wanted to do something with him."
He further went on to praise Porter as he added,
"I just adore Max's writing and the thing his writing does for me, which Claire Keegan's writing does as well - and it's something I've always chased down in writing - is something that has an actual visceral effect on you, an emotional effect. I remember reading Foster, Claire's short story, I remember actually crying reading the book and having to put my hood up on the train to try to hide, I was so embarrassed."
Trending The cast is stacked with Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo, and Emily Watson, with music from Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. Filming also wrapped in Somerset last summer.
Steve will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Prize section before hitting select US theaters in September. After that, Netflix drops it worldwide on October 3, 2025.
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