Apple Original Films has unveiled the first official trailer for Tenzing, director Jennifer Peedom’s biographical adventure drama chronicling the historic 1953 first ascent of Mount Everest. The film is set to open in select theaters on October 9, 2026, ahead of its global streaming rollout on Apple TV on October 16, 2026.
The narrative centers on Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, portrayed by newcomer Genden Phuntsok, and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, played by Tom Hiddleston, as they achieve the historic summit of Earth’s tallest peak—revered in Tibetan and Sherpa culture as Chomolungma. Four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe stars as British expedition leader Colonel John Hunt, with the ensemble rounded out by Tenzin Jigmey, Harry Greenwood, and Pasang Arya Sherpa.
Scripted by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Luke Davies (Lion), the project draws heavily on Peedom’s established background documenting Himalayan high-altitude climbing, having previously directed the critically acclaimed 2015 documentary Sherpa. Peedom emphasized that the production deliberately reframes the story away from traditional Western conquest tropes, focusing instead on Norgay’s spiritual connection to the mountain, his cultural identity, and his relationship with the local Sherpa community.
During pre-production, lead actors Phuntsok and Hiddleston traveled to the Khumbu Valley to consult directly with Kanchha Sherpa, the last surviving member of the 1953 British expedition, prior to his passing in October 2025. Hiddleston also met with Hillary’s grandson, Alexander Hillary, to research the explorer’s demeanor, close rapport with the expedition crew, and his post-1953 philanthropic initiatives dedicated to building schools, infrastructure, and the Lukla airport across Nepal’s Khumbu region.
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