The legendary Bette Midler is lending her distinctive voice to the character of the Fairy Godmother in Netflix's highly anticipated animated movie, 'Steps.'
Midler joins an impressive ensemble, including Amanda Seyfried as Cinderella, and Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu, who will portray the stepsisters, Lilith and Margot, respectively.
Describing her character, Midler revealed that this version of the Fairy Godmother, while full of good intentions, possesses a touch of clumsiness and a hint of mischievous scheming. She expressed her excitement to be part of the film and its remarkable cast.
Helmed by directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, 'Steps' reimagines the traditional tale by focusing on Lilith, one of Cinderella's stepsisters. The story unfolds as Lilith is unfairly blamed for disrupting the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, inadvertently transforming her sister Margot into a frog. With the kingdom now vulnerable to a prince-obsessed antagonist, Lilith must collaborate with Cinderella and an unexpected troll to rescue their world, mend their fractured fairytale, and demonstrate that even those labeled as 'villains' deserve their own joyful ending.
Director Alyce Tzue shared with Netflix's Tudum that the film's essence lies in the bond between two vastly different sisters who ultimately discover their profound similarities. Tzue's personal journey as a Taiwanese-American growing up in suburban New Jersey, often feeling like an outsider, inspired her to create a film for anyone who has ever felt a sense of not belonging, emphasizing the transformative power of a single act of kindness.
Audiences can look forward to the release of this animated feature later this year on Netflix.