Tenzing

I’m currently in production on Tenzing, a new film based based on the true story of sherpa Tenzing Norgay and his 1953 summiting of Mount Everest. Apple has found its lead in Genden Phuntsok (Jinpa), who will play the title role.

Tom Hiddleston co-stars in Tenzing as New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary, with Willem Dafoe set to portray English expedition leader, Colonel John Hunt, and Caitríona Balfe on board for the role of Jill Henderson, a friend of Tenzing who helped organize trips up Mount Everest. Thinley Lhamo (Shambhala) will round out the cast as Tenzing’s wife, Dawa.

The director is Jennifer Peedom, who has a close relationship with the Tenzing family and the Sherpa community following her work on the BAFTA-nominated documentary, Sherpa. Producers include Liz Watts, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning for See-Saw Films, alongside Desray Armstrong, Peedom and Davies. Norbu Tenzing (son of Tenzing Norgay), Simon Gillis and David Michôd will serve as executive producers, with Pravesh Sahni co-producing and Rakesh Singh line producing for Itop Film Productions.