Oscar winner Cillian Murphy’s Steve to world premiere at Toronto, with a fall theatrical bow and a Netflix drop
Cillian Murphy returns to the screen in Steve, a drama that world premieres at the Toronto Film Festival before a limited theatrical release on September 19 and a Netflix launch on October 3. The film, which blends tough social drama with darkly funny moments, follows a pivotal day in the life of Steve, the headteacher at a last-chance boys’ reform school in the mid-1990s, as he fights to protect the school’s integrity and his own mental health while facing an imminent closure.
The story, a reimagining of Max Porter’s 2023 novella Shy, unfolds as a documentary crew interviews the teens and staff, offering a window into a troubled world and serving as a mirror for contemporary political and social issues. On screen, Murphy is joined by Tracey Ullman in a dramatic turn, Simbi Ajikawo (Little Simz), and Emily Watson, with Jay Lycurgo as Shy. Murphy also serves as a producer through Big Things Films, alongside producing partner Alan Moloney; the project is a collaboration with Netflix, with Porter serving as writer and executive producer and Tim Mielants directing.
Creative roots and on-set process
Steve brings together Murphy’s longtime collaborators. Murphy and Porter have previously worked together on projects that sit at the intersection of literary adaptation and hard-hitting drama, and Mielants, who directed Murphy in previous work including the Peaky Blinders world and Big Things Films’ first feature Small Things Like These, returns to collaborate on a film described by its makers as a textured, character-driven piece. The production also marks a notable collaboration with Tracey Ullman in a role that Murphy described as “iconic” and “stunning.”
Porter has described the project as a natural extension of his Shy novella, recast around Steve’s day and the documentary crew’s presence. He notes that the structure allowed for a “novelistic texture” in which the boys’ voices and the adults’ perspectives collide, providing both immediacy and reflection. The screenplay was developed with a strong emphasis on authenticity, including a rehearsal period in which the young actors, some with limited acting experience, could blend real voices with their characters under director Tim Mielants’ careful guidance.
Tim Mielants has spoken about his approach, combining a dogma-inspired documentary feel for the immediacy of the early scenes with a more observational, cinematic shift as the film progresses. He experimented with the documentary device—interviews with the boys and teachers—that becomes embedded in the drama, creating a texture that critics and viewers alike could engage with as part of the story rather than as a mere backdrop.
Filming and setting
The project was shot in sequence, a choice the producers say helped the cast maintain emotional symmetry as Steve’s arc unfolds. The film’s visual language pay homage to 1990s cinema, with Tim Mielants weaving period-appropriate music, fashion, and a cinematic palette that shifts in tandem with the characters’ internal journeys. Porter emphasizes that the period setting serves both a political and aesthetic purpose: it anchors the story in a recent past while underscoring the timeless nature of the themes—bullying, vulnerability, and the need for human connection—without the mediation of modern mobile technology.
Release strategy and festival plan
Toronto will host the world premiere in a festival environment that the producers describe as the ideal venue for a film of this scale and ambition. The plan includes a limited theatrical release in select cinemas on September 19, followed by a Netflix debut on October 3, allowing the film to reach a broad audience while preserving the festival experience for reviews and discourse.
An Irish premiere is planned for Cork, aligning with Murphy’s connections to his hometown and offering a cross-continental rollout that underscores the film’s English-language, multinational appeal. Murphy also teased ongoing projects with Tim and the broader Big Things slate, noting a desire to keep a balance between high-profile roles and ambitious, challenging material.
Context and significance
Steve is positioned as part of Netflix’s slate that embraces difficult, thought-provoking storytelling. The collaboration follows Murphy’s recent work and the creative partnership that has yielded two distinct, character-driven projects from the same group of collaborators. The film’s focus on a school system under strain and its exploration of youth trauma, resilience, and institutional challenges resonates with ongoing conversations about social care, education, and youth welfare—topics that remain relevant in many markets.
What to watch for
– A standout performance by Cillian Murphy that leans into truth-telling and emotional truth, supported by a strong ensemble including Ullman, Little Simz, Watson, and Lycurgo.
– Tim Mielants’ distinctive visual approach, blending period-film textures with documentary-like interview sequences to deepen character study and social commentary.
– Max Porter’s narrative voice, adapted from Shy and reframed through Steve’s perspective, with a script that allows actors to shape certain moments within a guided framework.
– The on-set dynamic and the commitment to shooting in sequence, which producers say enhanced emotional momentum for the performers.
– The film’s festival-to-theatrical-to-streaming release strategy, illustrating Netflix’s support for complex, non-traditional dramas and the value of theatrical premieres for awards-season visibility.
Additional notes and takeaway
– The project underscores a broader trend of streaming platforms backing ambitious, issue-driven dramas with legitimate festival pedigrees and deliberate theatrical release plans.
– Murphy’s comments about seeking roles that demand vulnerability and rawness align with Steve’s heavy emotional load, promising a performance that could attract attention during awards season.
Summary
Steve is a potent, character-driven drama that uses a documentary frame to examine a single day in a troubled school and a teen’s inner life, while also reflecting wider social and political concerns. With Tim Mielants directing, Max Porter’s sharp, intimate writing, and a cast led by Murphy and anchored by Ullman, Watson, Little Simz, and Lycurgo, the film aims to blend entertainment with meaningful discourse. Its Toronto premiere, alongside a targeted theatrical release and Netflix debut, positions Steve as a strong contender in the current season of thoughtful, boundary-pushing cinema.
Optional hopeful note
This project showcases how serious, socially aware storytelling can be both engaging and accessible, offering audiences a chance to connect with challenging material while still feeling entertained and emotionally moved.