# Willem Dafoe on 'Tenzing' and feeling like an outsider

> Willem Dafoe stars in 'Tenzing' as John Hunt, still feeling like an outsider despite success.
- Title: Willem Dafoe on 'Tenzing' and feeling like an outsider · NME
- Summary: Willem Dafoe stars in 'Tenzing' as John Hunt, still feeling like an outsider despite success. willem darnold, tenzing, john hunt · reported by NME.
- Keywords: willem darnold, tenzing, john hunt, mountain everest, sherpa, apple tv, punks, new york, 70s, film, avant-garde, mainstream
- Source: NME — https://nme.com/features/film-interviews/willem-dafoe-interview-tenzing-punk-70s-john-hurt-outsider-3972518
- Published: 2026-10-07T13:07:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: willem darnold, tenzing, john hunt, mountain everest, sherpa, apple tv, punks, new york, 70s, film, avant-garde, mainstream
## Willem Dafoe in 'Tenzing'
Willem Dafoe stars as John Hunt in the 2026 film 'Tenzing' about Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who helped summit Mount Everest in 1953.
## John Hunt: an outsider
Dafoe says John Hunt, a military man, felt like an outsider in the Everest climbing community despite representing the Empire.
## Shooting in the mountains
Filming at altitude involved daily helicopter trips and weather uncertainty, with avalanches a risk but no injuries.
## Jennifer Peedom’s approach
Peedom focuses on Tenzing’s background, avoiding macho mountain climbing films to honor Sherpa culture.
## 70s New York punk scene
Dafoe recalls CBGB’s with Richard Hell, Television, Ramones, and James Chance And The Contortions in 1970s New York.
## Outsider identity
Dafoe says he still feels like an outsider due to distribution changes and technology, despite his success.
## Release dates
Tenzing releases in cinemas on October 9, 2026, then streams on Apple TV on October 16, 2026.
## Key takeaway

Willem Dafoe stars in 'Tenzing' as John Hunt, the Sherpa who helped summit Everest, and says he still feels like an outsider due to distribution and technology changes.