Netflix’s Steve writer reveals why the film underwent huge changes from the hit novel Shy

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Cillian Murphy’s new movie, Steve, is now available on Netflix after a limited showing in cinemas. Those expecting another brilliant performance from the consistently impressive actor – known for his roles in Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer – will not be let down.

This film brings Murphy and Belgian director Tim Mielants together again, after their deeply touching drama Small Things Like These last year. While their previous work was quiet and reflective, this new project is quite different, embracing a more energetic and unpredictable feel that matches the story it’s based on.

The original text comes from Shy, a 2023 novella by the well-known author Max Porter. The story centers around a school for boys struggling with difficult behaviour during the mid-1990s. The novella’s narrative is presented through the eyes of its teenage main character, Shy.

Porter has reworked his original story for the screen, but – as the new title suggests – he’s shifted the story’s emphasis. While the character of troubled teenager Shy remains important, the writer has greatly expanded the role of Steve, the school’s stressed-out head teacher, who is portrayed by Murphy.

But there was another reason, too, that Porter wanted to make the change.

He shared that he aimed to create a role for Cillian Murphy that would challenge him and take him in a fresh, demanding direction. “So I knew that we were going to keep the Shy story, but build the film around this teacher.”

That period turned into a really productive few months of thinking, working, and figuring out his character’s voice and energy. He began to understand that the character would face his own unique challenges, and how those challenges would connect to the character of Shy. Essentially, he was building a parallel between the teenage experience and the experience of being a teacher, creating a sort of reflective connection between the two.

Due to this adjustment, the majority of the cast didn’t require extensive preparation with the original story for the movie – however, Jay Lycurgo, who plays Shy, was a significant exception.

The actor explained that he read the book constantly, so much so that during workshops with Max and Cillian, they pointed out there was a script to review as well. However, he felt lucky because the book contained so many details about the character Shy that he could really immerse himself in it, and it became his most valuable resource.

He went on to explain: “Every day while I was filming, you’d always find me tucked away in a corner with my Walkman, headphones on, completely absorbed in the book-likely rereading the same section over and over again.”

It really allowed me to understand his perspective – his thoughts, his imagination, his relationship with his mother, and what he aspired to be. It was an incredibly helpful resource.

“It was like a well-worn Bible, honestly,” Porter explained. “Lycurgo carried it everywhere, and I’d make him mixtapes and playlists. He was constantly listening to Shy’s music, and he really immersed himself in the book in a way that others didn’t need to-the script itself was enough for everyone else.”

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2025-10-03 12:34