Mount Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level, and historically, many have tried and failed to reach the top. That is, until a British expedition led by John Hunt in 1953, resulting in Himalayan mountaineer Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary being the first people to successfully reach the summit. Director Jennifer Peedom is bringing that story to life with Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing, Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, and Willem Dafoe as John Hunt.

Tenzing yearns to reach the top of Mount Everest, and he had many doubters. Phuntsok explains that the Sherpa way of life is about survival.

“It’s honestly for survival,” Phuntsok tells Nerd Reactor. “The Sherpa people keep climbing, keep working as porters, just to survive and help their families. Even though they risk their lives every day, they keep doing this, pushing themselves to do that. And if they don’t do that, maybe it’s hard to find another job. Of course, it’s also part of the dream, but it’s more than a dream. It’s survival.”

The movie shines a light on who Tenzing is and his origin story. Phuntsok wants more people to know about him.

“I hope all the people around the world will pay attention to the Sherpa people and give them more love,” the Tibetan actor said. “There aren’t many stories from this perspective. This movie explains what the Sherpa people are doing in the valley.”

Willem Dafoe, known for playing the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, portrays Hunt as someone who wants the British to be the first to reach the summit. There are some clashes between John Hunt and Tenzing and Edmund. However, circumstances forced Hunt to change his approach in the expedition.

“He’s a guy that was born in India during the Raj,” Dafoe said. “He’s a mountain guy and military man, but his relationship to the Sherpas is not necessarily racist, but he sees them as apart. There’s the British over here; they’re always apart. That’s expressed very early in the movie. And it’s not a personal expression of how he feels. It’s a given feeling of the time, an accepted position at the time. And you see through experience how that shifts in the course of the expedition.”

One line Hunt says is: “Failure is not an option.” However, Dafoe believes that failure IS an option.

“After the expedition, I’m sure he would have said failure is an important part of learning, which is an important part of living,” Dafoe said. “It’s inevitable. That expressed his initial approach, which was a very military approach. But in fact, I think that gets adjusted in the course of the expedition.”

The interview has been edited for clarity.

About Tenzing

Synopsis: Based on true events, “Tenzing” chronicles the little-known story of Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok), a gifted Himalayan climber who, alongside New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (Tom Hiddleston), became the first to summit Mount Everest. Encouraged by his wife Dawa (Thinley Lhamo), Tenzing finds an ally in expedition secretary Jill Henderson (Caitríona Balfe). Together, they persuade Colonel John Hunt (Willem Dafoe) that Tenzing belongs on the British climbing team, rather than merely serving it.

Where Western climbers see “Everest” as something to be conquered, Tenzing reveres “Chomolungma” as the sacred mother goddess. What follows is an ascent defined as much by the tensions between backgrounds, classes and competing ambitions as by the perils of the mountain itself. But high above the world, empire, rank and aspiration fall away, leaving two outsiders bound by mutual respect and trust — and for Tenzing, the fulfillment of both a life-long dream and a spiritual calling.

Directed by Jennifer Peedom from a screenplay by Luke Davies. The film is executive produced by Norbu Tenzing, Simon Gillis, and David Michôd.

The film stars Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Caitríona Balfe, Tenzin Dalha, and Thinley Lhamo.

Tenzing releases in select theaters on October 9, 2026, and on Apple TV on October 16, 2026.