Cillian Murphy Finally Returns to the Screen in Intense First Trailer for Netflix's New Awards Contender

 

Steve, Netflix’s highly anticipated drama, marks Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy’s return to the screen in a role brimming with emotional complexity and raw authenticity.

A Day of Turmoil and Resilience

Set in the mid-1990s, Steve unfolds over a single, pivotal day in the life of its namesake, a headteacher at a struggling "last-chance" reform school. Faced with the imminent closure of his institution, Steve battles to maintain the school's integrity—all while confronting his own deteriorating mental health .

The trailer opens with a weary Steve being asked to describe himself in three words—he chuckles and replies, "Very, very tired." This quiet moment captures the emotional gravity and underlying fatigue defining his character .

Shy: A Mirror to Steve's Struggles

Parallel to Steve’s story is that of Shy, a troubled teen played by Jay Lycurgo. Caught between self-destruction and vulnerability, Shy’s inner turmoil mirrors Steve’s own fragility—highlighting themes of redemption, connection, and shared struggle .

Their fraught and fragile dynamic—which includes lines like “All I want for you is to just speak to us... you’re not alone, Shy”—sets the emotional tone of the film and emphasizes their interlinked journeys .

Creative Team and Cast

Director: Tim Mielants, known for Small Things Like These, reunites with Murphy, continuing their collaborative synergy .

Screenplay: Adapted by Max Porter, from his own 2023 novella Shy .

Producers: Cillian Murphy, Alan Moloney, and Tina Pawlik. Porter serves as executive producer .

Cast includes:

Cillian Murphy as the headteacher, Steve

Jay Lycurgo as Shy

Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo (Lil Simz), Emily Watson, Roger Allam, among others .

Release Timeline & Festival Spotlight

World Premiere: Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025 .

Theatrical Release: Select cinemas from 19 September 2025 .

Netflix Streaming: Global release on 3 October 2025 .

Why It’s Already Gaining Buzz

Reviews and early responses praise Murphy’s performance as “haunted,” with Jay Lycurgo’s portrayal of Shy earning high acclaim for its raw intensity. One reviewer called the film “a bruised elegy for institutions under siege and a character study shaped by the courage of those who persist within them.” That sums up the emotional weight and cinematic ambition driving the film's early acclaim—even before its premiere .

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“Steve” emerges as one of Netflix’s most compelling early contenders—blending emotionally charged performances, a tightly wound narrative, and a heart-rending premise that spotlights complex relationships, institutional decay, and the healing power of connection.