Apple secures worldwide rights to Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe's 'Tenzing'
Apple Original Films has acquired the global rights to Tenzing, a biographical film about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and his historic 1953 ascent of Mount Everest. The deal was finalized in the days leading up to this week's Cannes market. As reported earlier, the film, produced by Oscar-winning See-Saw Films, will feature BAFTA-nominated actor Tom Hiddleston and four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe in lead roles. The search for an actor to play Norgay is still on.
'Tenzing' to showcase Norgay's inspirational journey
Tenzing will portray the life of Norgay, who, along with New Zealander Edmund Hillary (Hiddleston), overcame tremendous odds to summit Mount Everest. Dafoe plays the English expedition leader, Colonel John Hunt. The film will focus on Norgay's final attempt after six previous unsuccessful tries. It will depict his navigation through dangerous politics and hazardous weather conditions with "humor, warmth, and generosity toward his fellow climbers." The script for Tenzing is penned by Oscar-nominated Luke Davies.
Jennifer Peedom to direct 'Tenzing'
Jennifer Peedom, renowned for her "intimate portraits against grand landscapes" in documentaries like Solo, Sherpa, and Mountain, will be directing the film. Peedom has exclusive rights to tell Norgay's story through his family and maintains a close relationship with the Sherpa community. The film is being produced by Liz Watts, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning for See-Saw Films, alongside Peedom and Davies.
'Tenzing' filming to commence in spring 2025
The filming of Tenzing is slated to begin in spring 2025 with a budget estimated at around $25M. The executive producers for the film include Simon Gillis, David Michôd, and Norbu Tenzing. Apple's acquisition of the project rights was described as a "competitive situation" as Cannes 2024 kicked off, marking one of the first major deals at the market this year. UTA Independent Film Group and Cross City Films brokered the deal with Apple.
