Steps Revealed: Radcliffe, Dinklage in a New Cinderella Tale

There’s a new kind of fairy tale arriving this winter — one that deliberately misplaces the glass slipper. Steps doesn’t retell Cinderella so much as turn the story inside out, delivering a sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender animation that champions misfits.

What grabbed headlines first was the voice cast. Daniel Radcliffe plays the prince, but not the lacquered sort you expect. Young Mazino joins as Guff, nicknamed the Charmer, and Peter Dinklage lends his voice to Roderick, a character known as the Mighty. Shared images of these three new character designs have already started conversations online: the prince’s awkward grace, Guff’s rakish smile, Roderick’s compact menace — each portrait hints at a fresh comic rhythm.

The story centers on Lilith (voiced by Ellie Wang), an unlikely troublemaker accused of sabotaging a royal celebration by stealing a magical wand. In a messy burst of unintended magic she turns her sister Margo (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog and inadvertently hands the kingdom’s fate to a cold, prince-obsessed girl. Who doesn’t love a setup that asks: what if the villain is just a protagonist with bad timing?

Amanda Seyfried appears as Cinderella, not the sole focus but an essential ally, and there’s even a singular troll who becomes Lilith’s unexpected companion. Bette Midler completes the ensemble as the kindly angelic figure, adding a layer of warm absurdity to the proceedings. The result is a film that nudges at the shape of classic tropes while keeping the laughs and the heart intact.

Steps aims to break fairy-tale molds and give each character — even the so-called villains — a shot at a happy ending. Directors Alice Tsu and John Reipa wanted a prince unlike any you’ve seen, and they say Radcliffe delivered a nuanced, comedic turn that made the character both charming and oddly lovable. Reipa has praised Radcliffe’s range and comic timing, calling the collaboration a true joy.

Tonally, the film mixes slapstick with sly commentary. It’s playful when it needs to be and surprisingly empathetic when it explores the motives behind mischief. The animation’s visual choices — visible now in the newly released stills — favor bold silhouettes and expressive faces, which helps the characters’ personalities land fast and funny.

Mark your calendars: Steps opens on November 20, 2026. Expect a movie that wants to make you laugh, reexamine who gets a happy ending, and maybe—just maybe—root for the underdog who stole a wand for all the wrong reasons.