Bette Midler will voice the Fairy Godmother in "Steps," a new animated reimagining of Cinderella produced by Netflix Animation Studios [1].

The casting of a high-profile actress is intended to boost the appeal of the project, which marks the first fully in-house animated feature for the streaming giant [1, 4].

Midler, a Tony Award-winner, joins the production as Netflix seeks to expand its original animated content [1, 2]. The film is a modern take on the classic Cinderella fairy tale, reimagined for a global audience [2, 3].

According to reports published this week [2], the project is being developed through the company's internal animation division. The film will be released worldwide on the Netflix streaming platform [1, 4].

The casting announcement occurred in May 2026 [1, 2]. While a specific premiere date has not been set, the film is slated for release later in 2026 [4].

This production represents a strategic shift for Netflix as it moves toward creating more proprietary animated features rather than relying solely on third-party acquisitions. By utilizing in-house studios, the company maintains greater control over the creative process, and distribution of its intellectual property [1, 4].

“Bette Midler will voice the Fairy Godmother in 'Steps.'”

The casting of Bette Midler and the use of an in-house studio signal Netflix's ambition to compete directly with established animation powerhouses. By pairing a legendary performer with a known intellectual property like Cinderella, Netflix is attempting to mitigate the risk associated with its first fully internal animated feature.