Tom Hiddleston will play Edmund Hillary in Apple TV’s Tenzing, the Everest biopic that reaches the streamer on 16 October after a short festival and theatrical run.
Polygon reports the Loki star’s next streaming stop is the Jennifer Peedom film about Tenzing Norgay and the 1953 first ascent of Mount Everest. Apple’s press page matches the dates: select theatres on 9 October, then Apple TV on 16 October.
Tenzing release dates: TIFF, theatres, Apple TV
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| TIFF Canadian premiere | 15 September 2026 |
| Select theatres | 9 October 2026 |
| Apple TV | 16 October 2026 |
Tom Hiddleston plays Edmund Hillary
Apple casts Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay and Tom Hiddleston as New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary. Willem Dafoe plays Colonel John Hunt, who led the British expedition. Caitríona Balfe appears as expedition secretary Jill Henderson, and Thinley Lhamo as Dawa, Norgay’s wife.
Peedom, known for mountain documentaries including Sherpa and Mountain, directs her first narrative feature. Luke Davies wrote the screenplay. Polygon says the shoot included time around Everest and Kathmandu; Hiddleston has called the Nepal stretch “the adventure of a lifetime.”
Festival and theatrical window
Tenzing has its Canadian premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 15 September, with further TIFF screenings later that week, according to TIFF listings. It already played Telluride earlier in September.
Apple then opens the film in select theatres on 9 October before the global Apple TV debut on 16 October — a one-week theatrical window ahead of streaming, as Polygon notes. The official Apple TV sneak peek on YouTube repeats the same theatre and streaming dates.
What the film is about
Apple’s synopsis frames the story around Norgay’s push to be treated as a climbing teammate rather than support staff, with Hillary as his partner on the summit push. Western climbers treat Everest as a peak to conquer; Norgay’s relationship to Chomolungma is spiritual. The film is rated TV-PG and billed as drama and adventure.
For UAE viewers there is no separate local premiere date. The Apple TV streaming date is the global one. tbreak has covered other Apple TV drops the same way, including Last Seen and Neuromancer. Hiddleston’s MCU lane remains live in coverage such as Avengers: Doomsday.
Tenzing screens at TIFF from 15 September, opens in select theatres on 9 October, and streams on Apple TV on 16 October.
When does Tenzing arrive on Apple TV?
Apple says Tenzing streams on Apple TV on 16 October 2026, after select theatres on 9 October 2026.
When does Tenzing play at TIFF?
TIFF lists the Canadian premiere on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at Roy Thomson Hall, with additional screenings on 16, 18 and 19 September 2026.
Who stars in Tenzing?
Apple lists Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary, Willem Dafoe as Colonel John Hunt, Caitríona Balfe as Jill Henderson, and Thinley Lhamo as Dawa.
Who directed Tenzing?
Jennifer Peedom directs; Luke Davies wrote the screenplay. Peedom’s prior work includes the documentaries Sherpa and Mountain.
Is there an official Tenzing trailer?
Apple TV has released an official sneak peek on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNjFIz5qlUM. It is also embedded on Apple’s Tenzing press page.
Is there a separate UAE release date?
No. Apple frames the Apple TV premiere as global on 16 October 2026. tbreak has not found a UAE-only theatrical or streaming schedule.
