The Uprising (2026)

History, Drama, Action • PT2H8M

The Uprising

Overview

As war and plague devastate 14th-century England, a humble peasant ignites a rebellion, uniting an army of commoners to defy the King’s might in a desperate fight for justice and survival.

Director: Paul Greengrass

Top Cast

  • Andrew Garfield as Ploughman
  • Jamie Bell as John Ball
  • Stephen Dillane as Archbishop Sudbury
  • Woody Norman as King Richard II
  • Tom Hollander as Treasurer Hales

Full Story & Plot Synopsis

Directed by Paul Greengrass and written alongside Peter Morgan, the British historical action drama feature The Uprising made its wide theatrical debut on September 11, 2026, distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures. Produced by Working Title Films and Perfect World Pictures, the 134-minute epic chronicles the tumultuous events of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, starring Andrew Garfield alongside Barry Keoghan, Johnny Flynn, and Helena Bonham Carter. The film debuted to strong critical praise and global box office success, lauded for its visceral handheld combat sequences, immersive period detail, gripping historical tension, and powerful lead performances by Andrew Garfield and Barry Keoghan depicting a pivotal working-class rebellion in medieval Europe. WHERE TO WATCH & STREAMING AVAILABILITY The Uprising is available across major theatrical cinema chains globally, including AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, and IMAX screens. Following its exclusive theatrical run, the feature will stream on Peacock in the United States, alongside digital transactional video-on-demand releases across platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google TV, and Fandango at Home. Physical home media collector editions, including 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray sets with behind-the-scenes historical featurettes, are managed by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. INTRIGUING FACTS & TRIVIA The project reunites acclaimed director Paul Greengrass with screenwriter Peter Morgan, who previously collaborated on intense, grounded historical and political character studies. Lead star Andrew Garfield underwent intensive hand-to-hand combat and agricultural tool training to portray medieval rebel leader Wat Tyler, executing his own practical stunts during chaotic battle set pieces. To ensure historical accuracy, the production constructed full-scale 14th-century London bridge barricades and rural village sets on location across Yorkshire and Kent, avoiding extensive green screen environments. BACKSTORY & THEMATIC ANALYSIS Set in 1381 during the aftermath of the Black Death and the grueling Hundred Years' War, the narrative follows Wat Tyler (Andrew Garfield), a weary village blacksmith in Essex. Faced with brutal poll tax collections and oppressive feudal labor laws imposed by the young King Richard II's regent council, Tyler unites desperate laborers, farmers, and tradesmen to resist royal bailiffs. Joining forces with radical preacher John Ball (Barry Keoghan), who inspires the masses with speeches advocating for human equality, Tyler leads tens of thousands of armed peasants on an unprecedented march toward London. As the rebellion breaches the gates of the capital, storming the Tower of London and demanding the abolition of serfdom, the young King Richard II and his ruthless advisors scheme to neutralize the peasant army through deception, leading to a tragic, bloody climax at Smithfield. Thematically, The Uprising explores class struggle, systemic exploitation, the pursuit of human dignity, and the fragile nature of political promises. By placing working-class voices at the center of a medieval historical epic, the story demonstrates that the fight for basic civil rights and economic justice is a timeless human struggle. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INSIGHTS Director Paul Greengrass brought his signature docudrama kinetic camera style to medieval warfare, working with cinematographer Barry Ackroyd to place audiences directly in the center of muddy, chaotic crowd confrontations. Composer Daniel Pemberton crafted a visceral musical score combining period-authentic folk instrumentation, heavy acoustic percussion, and choral chants to heighten the revolutionary momentum of the march. Through its grand scale, raw emotional power, and uncompromising historical lens, The Uprising stands as a masterclass in modern historical cinema.

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