Netflix recently unveiled the debut trailer for the film Steve, set to have its first showing at the Toronto Film Festival in the coming month under the Platform category. You can watch the trailer at the link above.
Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy headlines the film, marking his newest leading role. Steve is also the sophomore project of Big Things Films, a company he co-founded with Alan Moloney. The movie is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on September 19 and will be available on Netflix starting October 3.
The film Steve offers a creative retake on Max Porter’s 2023 bestseller Shy from the Sunday Times, presenting the narrative through the perspective of Steve, a reform school principal. Porter himself adapted the screenplay and serves as an executive producer, while Tim Mielants, who previously directed Small Things Like These for Big Things Films, directs this film. Production is handled by Murphy and Moloney under their Big Things banner.
Set in the mid-1990s, the story revolves around a critical day in the life of the titular character Steve, played by Murphy, and his students at a reform school designed as a final opportunity for troubled youth. As Steve endeavors to safeguard the establishment’s values and ward off its looming shutdown, he also confronts challenges related to his own mental health. Concurrently, the narrative tracks the young, troubled student Shy (played by Jay Lycurgo), who navigates his turbulent emotions and violent tendencies while pondering his future.
The plot unfolds over a day marked by the presence of a documentary TV crew, who interviews students and teachers, adding a layer of meta-commentary to the film. This element serves to reflect on contemporary political issues, a topic Porter elaborated on in a recent interview. Murphy described his portrayal of Steve as “one of the most exposing and terrifying roles I’ve undertaken.”
Notable cast members in Steve include Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo (also known as Little Simz), and Emily Watson.
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