Fresh off his acclaimed performance in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy is gearing up to star in another character-driven drama for Netflix called Steve. While Murphy is earning Oscar buzz for Oppenheimer, the storyline of his next streaming project surprisingly aligns with a different 2023 Academy Awards nominee The Banshees of Inisherin.
How Does Steve Compare to The Banshees of Inisherin?
According to Deadline, The Banshees of Inisherin, which scored nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture, follows lifelong friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) on a remote Irish island. When Colm abruptly ends their friendship, Pádraic spirals mentally while attempting to repair the relationship.
Similarly, Murphy’s new film Steve focuses on a headteacher at a reform school who struggles to maintain order with his unruly students, while also seeing his own mental health deteriorate. Both films spotlight regular men facing identity crises when key relationships crumble.
Cillian Murphy is producing Steve through his new production company called Big Things Films, which he launched with longtime collaborator Alan Moloney. Big Things and Netflix will partner on the film, allowing Murphy more creative control as he expands his interests behind the camera between acting gigs.
Steve is adapted from the novel Shy by author Max Porter, who co-wrote the screenplay. Acclaimed director Tim Mielants, who worked with Murphy on Peaky Blinders, will helm Steve. Given the positive experience both men had collaborating on Peaky, re-teaming with Mielants seems like an ideal fit for Murphy’s passion project.
How Busy Is Cillian Murphy Coming Off Oppenheimer’s Success?
On the heels of Steve beginning production this spring, Murphy also has indie drama Small Things Like These debuting at the Berlin Film Festival. Murphy stars in and produced the film, which examines similar thought-provoking themes about men facing adversity as Steve and The Banshees of Inisherin explore.
Between his new production company launching, awards season engagements for Oppenheimer, and other upcoming acting/producing jobs, Murphy is sustaining momentum following his global breakout in 2022’s biggest original blockbuster.
Will Cillian Murphy’s Workload Lessen After Award Season?
While the Golden Globe winner doesn’t plan on slowing down, he admits he’s looking forward to getting back in front of cameras after his demanding awards circuit run.
“It will be nice when it’s over to go back to work,” Murphy told Deadline.
Luckily both Steve and Small Things Like These represent passion projects allowing Murphy to flex his acting chops again after months spent celebrating Oppenheimer’s success.
It seems likely. Given Murphy and Moloney’s strong existing relationship with Netflix executive Anne Mensah, Steve may be the first of many future team-ups. According to Moloney, Mensah quickly recognized the potential of Steve based simply on an early draft. With Netflix fully backing its creative vision, Big Things Films seems poised to develop future original films and series for the streaming giant.
As Cillian Murphy fights for Oscar gold with Oppenheimer, his next gripping Netflix drama Steve offers hints he could soon be competing head-to-head with The Banshees of Inisherin at future awards shows.
