Picture credit: Alamy / Netflix
The glass slipper has officially found its fit. Netflix today has confirmed that Academy Award-nominated actress Amanda Seyfried has joined the voice cast of Netflix’s upcoming animated feature Steps, stepping into the iconic role of Cinderella.
As we last covered back in December, Steps is Netflix’s reimagining of the classic fairy tale. The animated comedy shifts the spotlight to the characters history has loved to hate—the “evil” stepsisters—proving they aren’t the villains, they might just be misunderstood.
With Ali Wong (Beef, Always Be My Maybe) already on board as the misunderstood Lilith and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) voicing her accidentally amphibious sister Margot, the addition of Amanda Seyfried (The Housemaid, The Dropout, Netflix’s Mank, Netflix’s Things Heard & Seen, Mamma Mia!) as Cinderella rounds out a powerhouse central trio for the movie, which is slated to hit Netflix later this year.
Picture Credit: Netflix
Directed by Alyce Tzue and John Ripa (co-director on Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon), Steps promises to deliver a fresh and much-needed twist on the story we all know. According to the directors, Seyfried was the perfect choice to bring this modernized princess to life.
“Amanda has this incredible ability to make her characters specific and relatable, and we absolutely needed that when taking on a character that’s as legendary as Cinderella,” director Alyce Tzue shared in a statement today. “We wanted to create a modern heroine complete with flaws and coping mechanisms, and Amanda immediately understood the task. Her portrayal of Cinderella is hilarious and heartbreaking and, most importantly, refreshingly human. You won’t want to miss it.”
Co-director John Ripa echoed that praise, adding, “Amanda has been an absolute joy to work with. She brings a level of experience and passion that inspires us to dig even deeper into the character. Her process of honing in on emotions, the control she has over her voice—it all comes together to give the classic character of Cinderella a depth and humor we could’ve never imagined.”
Just in case you need a refresher, here’s the official synopsis for the film:
“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 (Amanda Seyfried)…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.”
First announced in 2020, the film is produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, and Kim Lessing, with Poehler and Lessing producing under Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions banner.
On the animation side, the feature is being brought to life by Netflix Animation Studios (NAS) in Sydney and NAS Vancouver. In addition to the casting update, NAS Vancouver unveiled its brand-new campus today as production on the film ramps up ahead of its 2026 release.
STEPS – (Pictured) Lilith (voice by Ali Wong). ©2025 Netflix, Inc.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on Steps as it gears up for its release later this year (we’re thinking sometime between August and October), amongst a pretty quiet animation slate for the streamer for the year. Beyond Steps, Netflix has Swapped (May 1st) and Ray Gunn (Late 2026), but most of their other big swings are to come in the next few years.
Are you excited to hear Amanda Seyfried’s take on Cinderella alongside Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu? Let us know in the comments down below!
