Tom Hiddleston Climbs Everest for Edmund Hillary Role in Tenzing

Actor Tom Hiddleston traveled to the base camp of Mount Everest to prepare for his role as Edmund Hillary in the new film titled Tenzing. He took this step to experience the extreme terrain conditions firsthand before shooting.

Hiddleston, known for his role as Loki in the Marvel franchise, joined the project directed by Jennifer Peedom. He stars alongside Genden Phuntsok, who plays Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. The two are recorded as the first climbers to reach the summit of Everest in 1953. During the research expedition, Hiddleston was accompanied by Peedom and Phuntsok, as well as a high-altitude medical specialist to ensure their safety.

Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, Hiddleston expressed his admiration for Tenzing's spiritual connection with the mountain. According to him, the film does not portray Everest as an object to be conquered, but as a revered goddess—a mother whose lap is climbed. He considered Hillary very open to that depth of feeling. "They did something extraordinary. They achieved the impossible, like stepping onto the moon," he said. After that event, their lives changed forever; climbing Everest became possible and thousands of people have done it.

Hiddleston also admitted he had long been fascinated by Everest. He was moved by Peedom's vision of placing Tenzing Norgay at the center of the story. "I have been captivated by Everest for as long as I can remember. What really touched me about Jen's script was the effort to put Tenzing at the center of his own story, reframing the narrative from a different perspective, and bringing him to the fore," he said. The screenplay was sent to Hiddleston three years ago along with a beautiful letter from the director.

This Apple Original drama will have its European premiere on Thursday night (24/09/26) at the Zurich Film Festival. The story focuses on Tenzing, a gifted Himalayan climber, and Edmund as they attempt to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain. Zurich Film Festival director Christian Jungen stated that this year's festival motto is 'dream big'. The opening film is considered fitting because it shows how a person can grow beyond limits when they have a big dream. "The film offers powerful emotions and beautiful mountain scenery. But it also carries an important message for our times—the first ascent of Everest only succeeded because the climbers respected the local Sherpa community and the laws of nature," said Jungen.

Director Jennifer Peedom, who previously made the mountain climbing documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, added that the core of Tenzing is about a man who dares to imagine a life beyond the limits the world placed on him. "The spirit of 'dream big' feels very fitting," she said. The film not only presents a climbing story, but also highlights the courage, sacrifice, and faith required to reach the highest point on earth.

For Indonesian audiences, Tenzing offers a new perspective on exploration and respect for nature and local culture. This story can inspire Indonesian climbers who often scale high mountains in the archipelago, while also reminding them of the importance of respecting indigenous communities and the environment. In addition, the presence of a world-class actor like Hiddleston, who immerses himself totally in the role, shows a dedication to the craft of acting that could be a lesson for the domestic film industry.

With the release drawing closer, the question is whether this film will succeed in reflecting the spirit of 'dream big' and its message of nature conservation to global audiences, including Indonesia? We await the market and critics' response after the premiere in Zurich.