Tom Hiddleston Everest movie is happening, and he is not playing the guy you think he is. In Tenzing, the upcoming Apple TV+ biographical drama, Hiddleston takes on the role of Sir Edmund Hillary—the New Zealand mountaineer who, alongside Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. But here is the twist: the film is not about Hillary. It is about Tenzing, played by Tibetan actor Genden Phuntsok, and his six previous attempts before that historic final climb.
Tenzing movie production wrapped in August 2025 after filming on location in Nepal and New Zealand. Director Jennifer Peedom, who previously made the BAFTA-nominated documentary Sherpa, brings a deep relationship with the Tenzing family and the Sherpa community to the project. Her feature narrative debut follows Tenzing as he navigates treacherous politics, perilous weather, and the sacred reverence he holds for Jomolungma—the Mother Goddess of the mountain.
The cast is stacked with prestige talent. Willem Dafoe plays Colonel John Hunt, the English expedition leader who orchestrated the 1953 British Expedition. Caitriona Balfe appears as Jill Henderson, a friend of Tenzing who helped organize trips up Everest. Thinley Lhamo plays Dawa, Tenzing’s wife. And Norbu Tenzing—Tenzing Norgay’s actual eldest son—serves as executive producer, ensuring the film honors his father’s legacy with authenticity.
Tenzing movie first look images show Phuntsok in period climbing gear against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas. The production shot in Kathmandu and the Everest region for a month before moving to New Zealand for additional photography. Stefan Duscio handles cinematography, which means this will look gorgeous enough to make your palms sweat even if you are watching from your couch.
Apple acquired worldwide distribution rights in a competitive bidding war at the Cannes Market in May 2024, beating out Netflix and Higher Ground Productions, who were originally attached. The film is produced by See-Saw Films, the same company behind The Power of the Dog and Lion. Luke Davies, who wrote Lion, penned the screenplay.
What makes this project special is its centering of Tenzing’s perspective. For decades, the Everest story has been told through Western eyes, with Hillary getting top billing and Tenzing treated as a supporting player. Tenzing movie flips that script, exploring the humor, warmth, and spiritual depth of a man who risked everything for a mountain his people consider sacred. Hiddleston may be the bigger name, but Phuntsok is the heart of the story.
Apple has not announced a release date yet, but with post-production underway at Spectrum Films in Australia, expect it to hit the streaming platform sometime in 2026. Until then, you can rewatch Sherpa, Peedom’s documentary, to get yourself in the Everest mindset. Just maybe do not watch it before bed unless you want to dream about altitude sickness.
Stream Tenzing movie on Apple TV+ when it drops and witness the climb that changed history from the perspective of the man who made it possible.
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