Oscar winner Cillian Murphy will star in the upcoming Netflix original movie “Steve”, set to debuts on Oct. 3, 2025, marking a return to gripping storytelling for Murphy, playing the titular head of a school struggling with mental illness.
Steve is a film adaptation of Max Porter’s Sunday Times bestseller “Shy”. Set in the mid-1990s, the story unfolds over the course of a single day at a reform school for troubled youth. Murphy stars as Steve, a disillusioned headteacher who tries to steer his charges as he struggles with his own demons in a world that has turned its back on both him and the kids in his care.
Running parallel is the journey of Shy, a 17-year-old student played by Jay Lycurgo, who is caught between unresolved trauma and an uncertain future. His inner conflict—torn between vulnerability and violent impulses—mirrors the broader themes of isolation and emotional survival.
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Tracy Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo, and Emily Watson join the cast as well. Taking subtle inspiration from Murphy’s own background of having two teacher parents, the role guarantees a root-finding performance.
Murphy will also reprise his iconic role as Thomas Shelby in the forthcoming Peaky Blinders feature film.
