Tenzing is a 2026 biographical adventure drama movie from Apple Original Films, made with See-Saw Films. It is directed by Jennifer Peedom and written by Luke Davies. It stars Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary and Willem Dafoe as John Hunt, with Caitríona Balfe and Thinley Lhamo. It was filmed in Nepal and New Zealand.
The film is based on a true story. It follows the Sherpa climber Tenzing Norgay, who reached the top of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, with the New Zealander Edmund Hillary. It tells the story mostly from Tenzing’s side, from his early life to the summit.
Tenzing premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 15, 2026. It had a limited US theatre run from October 9, 2026, and has been on Apple TV since October 16, 2026. It is a biography and adventure film, and it runs about two hours.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was Tenzing Filmed?
| Film Name | Tenzing |
|---|---|
| Genres | Biography, Adventure, Drama |
| Filming Locations | Nepal (Mustang, Patan, Bandipur, Kathmandu, Everest region) and New Zealand (Aoraki/Mount Cook, The Remarkables) |
| Filming Dates | May 2025 to August 7, 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Stefan Duscio |
| Release Date | October 16, 2026 (Apple TV) |
Wikipedia says principal photography began in Nepal in May 2025, with filming on location in Kathmandu and the Everest region. It says filming wrapped on August 7, 2025, in New Zealand, and it names Stefan Duscio as the cinematographer. ITV News says that everything below Everest base camp was shot in Nepal, and everything above it in New Zealand. We could not find an exact day-by-day schedule, so please treat the dates as reported.
📍Mustang, Nepal
Mustang is a remote district in northern Nepal, close to the Tibetan border. It was one of the most important locations, and it stands in for Tenzing’s early life. Jennifer Peedom told Condé Nast Traveller that the villages there “doubled beautifully for Sherpa communities”, according to Moviedelic. The production had first thought of shooting those scenes in the Khumbu region. Moviedelic says the shoot in Mustang lasted about six weeks. We could not confirm the exact villages used.
Visiting: Mustang is a remote region, and visitors need permits, so please check the current rules with a local trekking operator.
📍Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur, Kathmandu Valley
Patan Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of worship. Peedom said the crew had only two hours to shoot two major scenes there, with a large number of extras. We could not confirm which scenes they were.
Visiting: The square is open to visitors. Early mornings are quieter, and please be respectful of worshippers.
📍Kathmandu, Bandipur and Everest Region, Nepal
Kathmandu is named as a filming location, and the production also shot in Bandipur, a hill town between Kathmandu and Pokhara, according to Onlinekhabar. Moviedelic says Bhaktapur was likely a location too, and that scenes were shot in real monasteries, but we could not confirm this. The Everest region is also listed as a filming area. Before filming, Hiddleston and Phuntsok trekked together to the Nepal side of Everest base camp, ITV News says.
Visiting: Please check which monasteries are open to visitors, since some are working religious sites.
📍Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand
The Everest scenes above base camp were filmed in New Zealand. The Department of Conservation approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall. These sites double as Everest base camp and the Hillary Step. DOC staff were on site daily to check the environmental rules.
The Otago Daily Times says filming took place at the Tasman Glacier, Hochstetter Dome, Twizel and The Remarkables. It also says the cast flew in from Nepal’s 40°C heat to -23°C in mid-winter. Hiddleston told ITV News that it needed “no imagination”, because it was real snow and ice.
Visiting: Please do not try to reach the filming terrain yourself. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has walking tracks and guided glacier trips. Our New Zealand page lists more films shot there, including Heart of the Beast.
📍The Remarkables, Queenstown, New Zealand
Address: Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
The Remarkables is a mountain range above Queenstown, and it is named as a filming location by the Otago Daily Times. The same report mentions aerial shots from Mount Earnslaw. One travel guide also lists Mount Head, but we could not confirm it. We could not confirm which scenes were filmed at each place.
Visiting: The range is a public mountain area, so please check conditions and guided options in Queenstown first.
Tenzing Behind the Scenes
To make your search for Tenzing filming even more interesting, here are some details from the shoot. Peedom said the team rehearsed the mountain scenes on safe ground first, so everyone knew what to do when they reached the real locations. Phuntsok learned English for the role, and he practised his lines by speaking them to yaks and sheep, he told ITV News. Tenzing Norgay’s eldest son, Norbu Tenzing, is an executive producer.
We will add more cast and crew Instagram posts and set photos here as soon as they are shared.
Is There Any Trailer Available for Tenzing?
Yes. Apple Original Films released the official trailer in September 2026, ahead of the October 9 theatrical release. You can watch it on Apple TV’s official YouTube channel.
Where Can You Watch Tenzing?
Tenzing is on Apple TV, which began streaming it worldwide on October 16, 2026. It also had a limited cinema release in the US from October 9. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 15, 2026.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Tenzing filmed?
A1: It was filmed in Nepal and New Zealand. The Nepal locations include Mustang, Patan Durbar Square and Bandipur, and the New Zealand ones include Aoraki/Mount Cook and The Remarkables.
Q2: Was Tenzing filmed on Mount Everest?
A2: No. Everything above base camp was shot in New Zealand, and the scenes below it were shot in Nepal.
Q3: When was Tenzing filmed?
A3: Filming began in May 2025 and wrapped on August 7, 2025, in New Zealand.
Q4: Who stars in Tenzing?
A4: Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston plays Edmund Hillary and Willem Dafoe plays John Hunt.
Q5: Who directed Tenzing?
A5: Jennifer Peedom directed it, from a script by Luke Davies.
Q6: Where can I watch Tenzing?
A6: It is on Apple TV, which began streaming it on October 16, 2026.
Tenzing was filmed across Nepal and New Zealand in 2025, with the Everest scenes above base camp shot around Aoraki/Mount Cook. We could not confirm every exact venue or scene location, and we will update this guide as soon as they are confirmed. Browse our other movie filming-location guides while you wait, and check back soon for more filming-location guides.
- Runtime ke sources alag hain (Wikipedia 125 min, aur ek listing 2h08), isliye “about two hours” likha hai.
- Release me bhi thoda farak hai. Wikipedia Telluride aur TIFF dono ka zikr karta hai, aur Onlinekhabar TIFF ka. Maine sirf TIFF (15 September) rakha hai.
- Mount Head sirf ek travel guide (Outlook Traveller) me hai, isliye “unconfirmed” likha hai. Tonboriday ka 12-location list maine use nahi kiya.
- Onlinekhabar cinematographer “Bishnu Kalpit” ko “location manager and cinematographer” likhta hai (Nepali unit). Credited cinematographer Stefan Duscio (Wikipedia) hai, wahi rakha hai.
- Trailer ki date me bhi sources alag hain (5 aur 16 September), isliye article me sirf “September 2026” likha hai.
- DOC, ITV, Otago Daily Times, Onlinekhabar aur Moviedelic ke links mere liye khul gaye. Jennifer Peedom ka Wikipedia link maine Tenzing wale Wikipedia page par dekha tha, par use alag se khol nahi paya. Ek baar click karke check kar lena.
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