Tom Hiddleston, widely recognized for his role as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to star in the biographical drama "Tenzing," which chronicles the historic 1953 Mount Everest expedition. The film will premiere on Apple TV+ on October 16.
Hiddleston will play Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand mountaineer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first individuals confirmed to reach the summit of the world's highest peak. Chinese actor Genden Phuntsok is cast as Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese Sherpa who guided the expedition. Willem Dafoe also appears in the film as John Hunt, the British army officer who led the climbing party.
Directed by Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom, "Tenzing" marks her first narrative feature. Peedom has a notable background in documentary filmmaking, with a focus on mountaineering subjects, including "Sherpa" (2015) and "Mountain" (2017). The film was shot on location around Mount Everest and in Kathmandu, Nepal. Hiddleston described the experience of filming in Nepal as "the adventure of a lifetime," an environment that has long fascinated him.
The film is expected to explore the complexities surrounding the summit achievement, particularly the speculation regarding who between Hillary and Norgay stepped onto the peak first. While Western media often highlighted Hillary, both mountaineers initially remained private about the exact order. Norgay would later confirm that Hillary was the first to reach the summit.
"Tenzing" will have a limited theatrical run before its streaming debut. The movie is scheduled to be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 15, followed by a release in select theaters on October 9. Apple TV+ will then host the film's premiere on October 16.