Based on Max Porter’s acclaimed novel Shy, the film reinterprets the story for the screen, following a crucial day in the life of Steve, the head teacher of a reform school on the edge of collapse. As he battles to hold the institution together, Steve must also confront personal demons that threaten to unravel him.
Murphy, who also serves as a producer on the project, is joined by a strong ensemble cast including Jay Lycurgo, who portrays Shy – a troubled teen wrestling with his past and uncertain future. The cast also features Tracey Ullman, musician-turned-actor Simbi Ajikawo (known from Top Boy), and veteran performer Emily Watson, seen recently in Small Things Like These.
Steve brings together powerful storytelling and raw performances, underscored by a haunting score from Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. The film is a collaboration between Murphy’s production company and long-time creative partner Alan Moloney, with Max Porter not only adapting his own novel for the screenplay but also taking on an executive producer role.
This project adds to an already stacked year for Murphy, who is also confirmed to reprise his role as Tommy Shelby in the Peaky Blinders film, expected later this year. Steve promises a gripping, emotionally layered experience that explores education, redemption, and the human cost of institutional failure.