Cillian Murphy, Oscar winner known for his intense roles — such as the brilliant physicist in Oppenheimer and the ruthless gangster in Peaky Blinders — takes on a very different character this time. In the British film Steve, inspired by Max Porter’s bestseller Shy, Murphy plays the head of a juvenile detention school on the brink of closure.
This gripping drama explores the fight for dignity and the future, both for the protagonist and the young people in his care. Here’s everything we know so far and when the film will be available on Netflix.
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Steve – all the key details
- Original Title: Steve
- Genre: Drama
- Country of Production: United Kingdom
- Original Language: English
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jay Lycurgo, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo, Douggie McMeekin, Youssef Kerkour, Roger Allam
- Director: Tim Mielants
- Screenplay: Max Porter (from his novel Shy)
What Steve is about
As we learn from TUDUM, Netflix’s partner site, the story is set in the mid-1990s at the “Last Chance”, a juvenile detention school for troubled youths now considered lost by society. On a pivotal day, Steve (Cillian Murphy) fights against bureaucracy to prevent the institution’s closure, while simultaneously confronting his own demons and deteriorating mental health. At the same time, we follow Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a teenager caught between a difficult past and an uncertain future, struggling to balance sensitivity with self-destructive impulses.
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The cast and production
The screenplay is by Max Porter himself, while the film is directed by Tim Mielants, known for Small Things Like These. The soundtrack is composed by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. Producing the film are Alan Moloney, Cillian Murphy, and Tina Pawlik, with Max Porter serving as executive producer. Alongside Cillian Murphy, the cast includes Tracey Ullman, recognized for Mrs. America; Jay Lycurgo, the lead in Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself; Simbi Ajikawo, known from Top Boy; and Emily Watson, famous for her performance in Breaking the Waves.
Max Porter‘s bestseller
Steve is the cinematic adaptation of the novel Shy, as previously mentioned, written by Max Porter, the acclaimed British author and multiple award winner. Published in the UK in 2023, the book was praised by critics for its poetic style, raw honesty, and deep empathy for its characters. The adaptation, overseen by the author himself, preserves the pace and emotional power of the original work, enhancing it with a visual impact that engages both readers of the book and new audiences.
When to watch Steve on Netflix
Steve will be available on Netflix starting Friday, October 3, 2025 ► Watch it on Netflix
