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Bette Midler Is Netflix’s New Fairy Godmother Steps — And She’s Gloriously Chaotic
By Reetam Bodhak
July 13, 2026
If you thought Bette Midler couldn’t top Winifred Sanderson, Netflix is about to prove you wrong. The Hollywood legend has officially joined the voice cast of Steps, Netflix’s upcoming animated feature film — and the role sounds like it was written just for her.
The Film: Cinderella, But Make It Chaotic
Steps isn’t your grandmother’s Cinderella story. This bold reimagining flips the classic fairy tale on its head by telling the whole thing from the perspective of the infamous stepsisters — and honestly, it sounds like a blast.
Steps
The story follows Lilith (voiced by Ali Wong), who steals the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and hijacks the Royal Ball alongside her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu). Their scheme goes spectacularly sideways, accidentally handing the kingdom over to Priscilla, a scheming villain who snatches the throne. Now Lilith and Cinderella herself — voiced by Amanda Seyfried — must team up, outrun evil henchmen, fight biker trolls, and survive the Screaming Woods just to save the kingdom and, more importantly, their own relationship.
It’s funny, chaotic, action-packed, and emotionally grounded in sisterhood. Basically, everything you’d want from a modern animated film. Stay on top of the latest Netflix releases and everything entertainment at Technosports.
Why Bette Midler as the Fairy Godmother Is Perfect Casting
Forget the sweet, floaty, bibbidi-bobbidi version. Midler’s Fairy Godmother is something far more entertaining — a well-intentioned bumbler with a scheming streak who can’t quite get her magic together. In Midler’s own words, she’s “a little bit of a bumbler and a little bit of a schemer” who comes in with good intentions but delivers gloriously imperfect results.
The irony of Winifred Sanderson — cinema’s most iconic scheming witch — now playing a scheming Fairy Godmother is the kind of full-circle casting that practically writes its own press release. Comedy, chaos, and unmistakable star power: it’s a perfect fit.
A Star-Studded Production Behind the Scenes
Steps is a landmark production for Netflix — it’s the first film ever built entirely within Netflix Animation Studios in-house. It’s being directed by Alyce Tzue, a Student Academy Award gold medal winner, and John Ripa, who co-directed Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. Comedy powerhouse Amy Poehler is producing through Paper Kite Productions alongside Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing.
With that creative team, a scene-stealing cast, and a fresh spin on a timeless story, Steps is shaping up to be one of the most exciting animated films of 2026. For more on what’s coming to Netflix and beyond, don’t miss our full entertainment coverage at Technosports.
FAQs
Q: Who does Bette Midler voice in Netflix’s Steps?
She voices the Fairy Godmother — a lovably bumbling, slightly scheming version of the classic character, a far cry from the prim and proper fairy tales we grew up with.
Q: When is Steps releasing on Netflix?
No exact date has been confirmed yet, but Netflix has announced it will arrive later in 2026, making it one of the most anticipated animated films of the year.
