Cillian Murphy Netflix Movie 'STEVE': Everything You Need To Know

Steve Netflix Movie Poster Cover Art

Scheduled for October 2025, Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo are heading a drama feature film from the UK called Steve. While things have been hush-hush on the cast thus far, we’re ready to blow the door off on who will be starring and even some news about who will be providing the film’s soundtrack, plus the official release date and first look photo courtesy of Netflix. Let’s dive in!

While a clip of STEVE was previewed at Next on Netflix UK at the beginning of the year, beyond a couple of behind-the-scenes photos, very little has been released to the public. That’s until now, with a first look image released (see above), and an official release date confirmed for October 3, 2025. It’ll also have a limited theatrical release in September and also have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 5th.

Directed by Tim Mielants and written by Max Porter, it serves as a reimagining of Max Porter’s novel Shy, with Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo headlining the cast.

Set in the mid-1990s, Steve follows the head of a struggling “last chance” reform school for teenage boys. With limited resources, exhausted staff, and a growing sense of futility, Steve (Murphy) faces one of the school’s most critical days yet, complicated further by the arrival of a documentary news crew. What’s intended as a profile piece risks turning into a damning exposé.

The school itself is housed in a dilapidated rural manor, run by weary adults determined to believe in their students’ potential. The boys teeter between aggression and vulnerability, and director Tim Mielants captures this volatile environment with raw authenticity, blending vérité-style interviews with intimate, behind-the-scenes moments. Across the day, tensions boil over, mistakes are made, and Steve clings to the hope that the school can survive.

The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes.

Picture: Netflix

Who else is in the cast for Steve beyond Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo?

Pictures: Getty Images

The major new announcement today is that Lil Simz (Simbi Ajikawo) is also involved in the production. She’s playing the role of Shola, in addition to providing an exclusive song to the movie, titled ‘Don’t Leave Too Soon,’ which she recorded with Miles Clinton James and Matthew Nelson.

Joining Lil Simz in the film are Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show, Mrs. America) and Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves, Small Things Like These).

Danielle Meehan (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) as Shy’s Mum
Leanne Everitt (Netflix’s The Crown) as Helen, the wife of Cillian Murphy’s character
Youssef Kerkour (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Netflix’s Stay Close) as Owen
Tut Nyuot (Netflix’s The Witcher, The Long Walk) as Tarone
George Fouracres (The Franchise, Don’t Huge Me I’m Scared) as Angus
Shelley Longworth (Benidorm, Suffragette) as Sarah
Douggie McMeekin (Netflix’s The Decameron, The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight) as Andy
Charlie Beaven (Testament and Netflix’s The Crown) as Henry Harvey
Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Secret Service, Netflix’s The Crown) as Julian
Archie Fisher (Netflix’s Death by Lightning, Sweetpea) as Cal
Joshua Barry (Netflix’s Legends) as Ash
Marcus Garvey (Netflix’s Eurovision and Fool Me Once, Hijack) as Geoff
Araloyin Oshunremi (Momo) as Benny
Tilly Walker (The Forstye Saga, Famous Five) as Claire
Lois Haidar as Holly
Luke Ayres
Joshua J Parker
Tom Moya
Ahmed Ismail
Priyanga Burford (Netflix’s The Bodyguard, Industry)
Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis (The Serpent Queen, National Treasure: Edge of History)
Roger Allam (Endeavour, The Thick of It)

Speaking earlier this year on the podcast Film Fest Gent Talkies, Tim Mielants teased the film, describing it as “a bit of an arthouse version of Dead Poets Society,” centered around “a teacher helping criminal youth get on the right path.” He adds that it’s “a fully international production” made in collaboration with Netflix. When asked if it will be in cinemas, he replies, “It will be in theaters, but I think only for a short time.”

Big Things Films is the production company behind the movie, with Cillian Murphy, Tina Pawlik, and Alan Moloney producing. Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow are behind the music for the new film, with Max Porter serving as EP.

Here’s some more first look stills from the upcoming movie: