Tenzing trailer: Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston climb Everest on Apple TV – Apple Original Films has released the official trailer for Tenzing, Jennifer Peedom’s drama about Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest.
The film will now premiere in selected cinemas and stream globally on Apple TV on Friday, 16 October 2026. Genden Phuntsok stars as Tenzing, while Tom Hiddleston plays Hillary.
For Australian viewers, the same-day cinema and streaming release makes the film widely accessible while preserving the scale of Peedom’s mountain filmmaking. The story also places Tenzing’s perspective and spiritual relationship with Chomolungma at its centre.
Tenzing tells the story behind the first Everest summit
Inspired by true events, Tenzing follows the Sherpa mountaineer who dreamed of reaching the summit of Mount Everest. After several attempts, Tenzing Norgay was chosen for Colonel John Hunt’s 1953 British expedition.
Dawa, played by Thinley Lhamo, encourages Tenzing to keep pursuing the summit. Jill Henderson, played by Caitríona Balfe, helps persuade Hunt to add him to the team.
Once the climbers begin the expedition, Tenzing and Edmund Hillary form a partnership across differences in background, class, ambition and culture. Their trust ultimately carries them to the top of the world.
A Himalayan perspective on Chomolungma
The film contrasts the Western climbers’ desire to conquer Everest with Tenzing’s reverence for the mountain. To him, Chomolungma is a sacred mother goddess rather than simply a peak to defeat.
That perspective gives the adventure a spiritual dimension. It also reframes the famous 1953 expedition around the man whose skill, knowledge and resilience were essential to its success.
Peedom has built a career filming in extreme mountain environments. Her earlier work includes the documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, giving Tenzing a filmmaker with direct experience telling Himalayan stories at scale.
Cast and creative team
Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston lead a cast that also includes Willem Dafoe as Colonel John Hunt. Caitríona Balfe, Thinley Lhamo and Tenzin Dalha also star.
Peedom directs from a screenplay by Luke Davies, based on a story by Peedom and Davies. The producers are Peedom, Davies, Desray Armstrong, Liz Watts, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman.
The film is produced with See-Saw Films. Norbu Tenzing, Simon Gillis and David Michôd serve as executive producers.
TENZING PREMIERES IN SELECTED CINEMAS AND ON APPLE TV ON FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2026.
For more TV Central Apple TV news, head here. Visit the official Tenzing page on Apple TV.