Tom Hiddleston spent much of the 2000s building his career, although audiences outside London’s West End and British television may not have taken much notice until his scene-stealing turn as Loki in 2011’s Thor. That year proved to be a major turning point for the actor, who also appeared in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, Terence Davies’ superb The Deep Blue Sea, and Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. By the following year, Loki had emerged as the central villain in The Avengers, outshining the competition, cementing Hiddleston’s status as a bona-fide movie star.

Now, 2026 is giving Hiddleston another standout year. On October 31, he begins his Broadway run as Benedick opposite Hayley Atwell’s Beatrice in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. If the production retains the spark of its 2025 London run, it could be one of New York City’s biggest theatrical highlights this fall. For those unable to make the trip to Broadway, there’s another way to see the actor take on an extraordinary challenge: playing Sir Edmund Hillary in Tenzing, an Everest epic available on Apple TV.

Hillary has long been associated with the historic 1953 expedition, the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest. Yet the story’s other central figure, Tenzing Norgay, deserves equal recognition. The Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer devoted much of his life to the mountain, driven by a deep fascination and love for it. Directed by Jennifer Peedom and written by Luke Davies, Tenzing shifts the spotlight toward this often-overlooked local hero, making the film’s current success all the more satisfying. According to FlixPatrol, it has claimed the top spot among movies on Apple TV, knocking the goofy toy-car commercial Matchbox: The Movie off the throne.

Tenzing Is a Thrilling, Gorgeously Shot Mount Everest Epic

Tenzing has earned an impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with much of the critical acclaim directed at Genden Phuntsok’s performance as the film’s central figure. Director Jennifer Peedom and screenwriter Luke Davies aren’t attempting to rewrite history by downplaying Hillary’s achievement. Instead, their film presents the two climbers as equals. At its heart, however, this isn’t simply a story about friendship between two men. The real emotional focus is Tenzing’s profound connection to Everest and his determination to stand at its summit.

Willem Dafoe appears as John Hunt, the expedition leader, while cinematographer Stefan Duscio brings the breathtaking landscape to life through striking visuals. The result is an adventure with a genuine sense of grandeur, making its short theatrical release all the more disappointing. Neither Phuntsok nor Tom Hiddleston is considered a strong contender for an Academy Award nomination, but the film’s growing popularity and positive reviews could give Apple TV reason to pursue an awards campaign. After all, Oscar season has a reputation for delivering plenty of surprises.

In the meantime, Tenzing is well worth watching for its sweeping portrayal of Everest, letting audiences take in the mountain’s extraordinary beauty without having to endure its freezing temperatures or dangerously thin air.

Source: Various