Netflix's new Cinderella-inspired film confirms Mamma Mia star as beloved heroine

Amanda Seyfried has enjoyed a rich and eclectic career, from her breakout role in Mean Girls and iconic turn in Mamma Mia to her magnificent, overlooked performance in the recent The Testament of Ann Lee. And now, she's been cast as one of the most beloved characters ever to grace the silver screen.

Seyfried has been announced as the voice of none other than Cinderella in Netflix's new animated reimagining of the classic fairytale, which is titled Steps and will tell the story from the perspective of her "misunderstood" stepsisters Lilith and Margot, voiced by Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu.

Steps will be released on an as-yet-unspecified date in 2026 and is directed by Alyce Tzue (a Gold medal winner at the Student Academy Awards in 2015) and John Ripa (co-director on Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon).

The official synopsis reads: "Think you know Cinderella's “evil” stepsisters? Think again! When misunderstood Lilith is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl.

"Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella...and a surprisingly dreamy troll…to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after."

Speaking about Seyfried's casting, Tzue praised the actor's "incredible ability to make her characters specific and relatable" something which she said "we absolutely needed... when taking on a character that’s as legendary as Cinderella".

She continued: "We wanted to create a modern heroine complete with flaws and coping mechanisms, and Amanda immediately understood the task. Her portrayal of Cinderella is hilarious and heartbreaking and, most importantly, refreshingly human. You won’t want to miss it.”

Ripa added: "Amanda has been an absolute joy to work with. She brings a level of experience and passion that inspires us to dig even deeper into the character.

"Her process of honing in on emotions, the control she has over her voice – it all comes together to give the classic character of Cinderella a depth and humour we could’ve never imagined."

In addition to her aforementioned role in The Testament of Ann Lee, Seyfried's other recent credits including playing Nina in the box office hit The Housemaid – a role she hopes to reprise in the upcoming sequel – and the TV series Long Bright River.

Meanwhile, speaking to Tudum about Steps when the project was first announced, Tzue explained: "This story is, at its core, about two very different sisters – one who fits perfectly into this fairy tale kingdom and one who doesn’t – realising they’re more alike than different.

"It’s such a personal story for me because, growing up as an awkward, artsy Taiwanese kid in suburban New Jersey, I often felt like an outsider, like ‘happily ever after’ wasn’t meant for me. I wanted to create a film for everyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong – and show how a single act of kindness can change everything."

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