Apple Lands Mount Everest Drama ‘Tenzing’ Starring Willem Dafoe, Tom Hiddleston

Apple has landed the worldwide rights to mount Everest climbing drama Tenzing, starring Willem Dafoe and Tom Hiddleston.

The package, which sold out of the Cannes film market, tells the true story of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who led the first climbers to the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. Hiddleston will play New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Dafoe will play English expedition leader Colonel John Hunt. Casting is underway for the role of Tenzing Norgay.

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Jennifer Peedom is set to direct the film. She made docs Sherpa and Mountain and has a close relationship with the Tenzing family and the larger Sherpa community. Lion writer Luke Davies is behind the screenplay.

Producing is Liz Watts, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning for See-Saw Films, alongside Desray Armstrong, Peedom and Davies. (Apple and See-Saw have partnered on five seasons of the series Slow Horses.) Simon Gillis, David Michôd and Norbu Tenzing (son of Tenzing Norgay) will serve as executive producers.

UTA Independent Film Group and Cross City Films negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

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