Cillian Murphy has an "intense" new Netflix movie on the way which is based on a story that "broke" his heart.
Steve is adapted from the Max Porter novella Shy, which was published in 2023 and focuses on a headteacher (played by Murphy) and students as their last-chance reform college faces closure.
The film is the first official project from Murphy and collaborator Alan Moloney's new production company Big Things Films, which also worked on last year's Small Things Like These. Lyndsay Myles and Tina Pawlik (Top Boy, Ted Lasso) are also on board as producers alongside Murphy and Moloney.
Porter himself is adapting his book for screen, while Tim Mielants – who helmed Small Things Like These – is directing Steve.
Speaking about the project last year, Murphy admitted he "adore[s]" Porter's writing, explaining that it "is something that has an actual visceral effect on you, an emotional effect".
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"Max gave me that book in a proof edition before he finished it, and again it just broke my heart," he told Deadline. "They’re the sorts of things I love as a reader and as a performer, so I really wanted to do something with him."
Murphy further described the film as "very funny", Moloney adding it is "darkly funny" and that they were looking for "good writing" when choosing it as a project for their company.
"Equally, what we all do is to try and entertain in some form," he added of their ethos. "And so our intention is not to only make dark difficult films or tell dark difficult stories. It will be whatever is the writing that appeals and has something to say."
Filming on Steve took place last year between May and July, with Netflix sharing a behind-the-scenes picture at the time to mark its conclusion.
What is Steve about?
Steve focuses on the titular headteacher at a college that aims to reform students, with the story taking place over the course of 24 hours. As he and the students try to stop the school facing closure, Steve also struggles with his mental health.
The storyline also follows Shy, a troubled teenager who is caught between his past and future and reckons with self-destructive and violent impulses.
While the original book is told from Shy's perspective, the film will flip things around and show things from Steve's point of view.
"It was Max’s idea to change the perspective and flip it around to the headteacher who runs this institution," Murphy told Deadline. "Myself and Alan and Max got on a call and we started to turn it around in our heads and it seemed like we could make a film out of it. The same events happen, we’re just looking at them through a different lens."
He added: "I love films that happen in real time – this all happens in 24-hours so there’s immediately sort of an intense pressure on the characters."
When will Steve be released?
Netflix has confirmed that Steve will be released in autumn this year, but has yet to confirm a specific release date.
It's also unclear whether the movie will get a limited cinema or festival run ahead of its streaming debut.
Who is in Steve?
Alongside Cillian Murphy, the only other cast member that has been confirmed is Jay Lycurgo in the role of Shy. You might recognise Lycurgo from the likes of The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself and Generation Z.
Further casting is yet to be officially announced.
Steve is released on Netflix this autumn.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
