Can a teacher and student overcome one day filled with turmoil? “Steve” follows a dedicated headteacher facing a looming school closure. His resolve is further complicated by ongoing mental health concerns. The upcoming film offers further insight as it delves into the life of a teen dealing with self-destructive impulses. Max Porter reimagines his bestselling novella “Shy” for the project. The author-turned-screenwriter also serves as executive producer. Filmmaker Tim Mielants directs.
Cillian Murphy stars as Steve, a teacher balancing various dilemmas. The Oscar winner previously worked with Mielants on 2024’s “Small Things Like These.” Jay Lycurgo co-stars as a student dealing with the past and a troubled future. His credits include the DC series “Titans.” He can also be seen in the upcoming film “Eternal Return,” with Naomi Scott and Kit Harrington.
The film’s official synopsis:
Set in the mid-90s, Steve is a reimagining of Max Porter’s Sunday Times bestseller Shy. The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve (Academy Award® winner Cillian Murphy) and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. As Steve fights to protect the school’s integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve’s struggles, we meet Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.
“Steve” premieres during the 2025 Toronto Film Festival. It hits select theaters in September before debuting on Netflix on October 3. Watch the film’s new trailer below.
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