Cillian Murphy pushed for ambitious way of filming Steve – but director thought it was impossible

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After receiving the Best Actor Oscar for his outstanding performance in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy has begun working on some more intimate, smaller projects.

Recently released in a few UK cinemas and coming to Netflix on October 3rd is “Steve,” a deeply touching film.

Tim Mielants directs this adaptation of Max Porter’s 2023 novella, *Shy*, starring Paul Mescal as Murphy. He plays a stressed-out headteacher working at a school for troubled boys in the mid-1990s, a place that’s short on staff and resources.

The actor known for Peaky Blinders also helped produce the film and proposed a daring idea: filming all the scenes in the order they happen. The director wasn’t sure it would be possible, but they decided to try it.

We worked closely with Ken Loach, and that shaped our process. Because we’d already covered everything the day before, we didn’t need to spend mornings reviewing or figuring out where we left off – it all felt very seamless.

We really focused on creating a complex story from the beginning, which allowed us to explore deeper themes and create a satisfying evolution for the narrative. We were striving for something truly meaningful.

This isn’t the first project director Mielants and actor Murphy have worked on together. Mielants directed all episodes of the third season of *Peaky Blinders* in 2016, and more recently, they collaborated on the powerful drama *Small Things Like These*, which was based on a short story by Irish author Claire Keegan.

A key strength of the previous film was its deliberate pacing and quietness. Director Mielants used a simple, understated style that actually heightened the emotional impact of the story.

Steve approached this film differently, creating a fast-paced and visually striking experience that reflects the inner turmoil of the characters. However, surprisingly, the way this film was made wasn’t so different from his previous one.

Despite appearing chaotic, the filming process was actually very organized, Mielants said. Similar to his previous films, he carefully planned every shot, which was even more crucial this time because he was aiming for a more energetic and unconventional style.

He explained, “I think you have to do that.” The Dardenne brothers, famous Belgian directors, taught him that truly letting go requires precise planning. He meticulously prepared everything beforehand, and he’s pleased it *feels* spontaneous – that was exactly what he aimed for.

Both Steve and *Small Things Like These* share a focus on characters motivated by compassion – a strong desire to do what’s right, even when facing tough challenges, both in their lives and within themselves. This was a key theme that the directors, Mielants and Murphy, wanted to investigate.

You know, I truly believe that being open and vulnerable is actually our greatest strength as people. And honestly, I really hope that comes across in the films we’ve made together. It’s something I’ve always tried to bring to my work.

I seem to naturally portray men struggling with depression, and that’s become a core part of my work. When I play these characters, there’s a real connection – we can both be honest and vulnerable with each other, share difficult thoughts, and feel safe making mistakes.

I believe that’s the key to adventuring and trying new things – being brave and experimenting. Ultimately, it comes down to trust; that’s what really matters between us. We rely on each other completely.

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2025-09-19 18:56