The Uprising is shaping up to be one of the most intense historical dramas of fall 2026. Directed and written by Paul Greengrass, the film stars Andrew Garfield as the leader of a mass rebellion against the rule of King Richard II.
Set against the events of the 1381 English uprising, the
movie follows an army of ordinary people who rise against royal authority in a
fight for justice and survival. Focus Features has scheduled the film for a
wide U.S. theatrical release on September 11, 2026.
With Garfield joined by Jamie Bell, Cosmo Jarvis, Stephen
Dillane, Tom Hollander, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Katherine
Waterston and others, The Uprising combines political conflict, battlefield
tension and a large ensemble cast.
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| THE UPRISING - A REBELLION AGAINST THE CROWN |
Watch the Official Trailer
The official trailer presents the film as a large-scale
rebellion story built around fear, anger and resistance. Andrew Garfield’s
character becomes the public face of a movement as commoners organize against
the power of King Richard II.
The marketing emphasizes sweeping crowds, violent clashes
and the personal cost of challenging the crown, suggesting that the film will
balance intimate character drama with large historical set pieces.
What Is The Uprising About?
The story takes place during a period of war, taxation and
deep social unrest in medieval England. As pressure on ordinary people grows, a
rebellion begins to spread.
Andrew Garfield plays a figure known as the Ploughman, who
emerges as one of the movement’s central leaders. He helps unite commoners into
an army capable of confronting the king’s forces.
Rather than presenting the conflict as a simple battle
between heroes and villains, the premise points toward a struggle shaped by
class, political power, fear and survival.
The True History Behind the Movie
The Uprising is inspired by the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381,
one of the most significant popular uprisings in medieval English history.
The rebellion was driven by several pressures, including
heavy taxation, economic hardship and resentment toward the ruling elite. Large
groups of rebels moved toward London and demanded political and social change.
The film is a dramatization rather than a documentary, but
its historical setting gives the story a much larger context than a
conventional action movie.
Andrew Garfield as the Ploughman
Andrew Garfield leads the film as the Ploughman, the central
figure around whom the rebellion gathers.
The role gives Garfield a chance to play a very different
kind of protagonist: not a modern hero or romantic lead, but a man pushed into
leadership during a period of extreme social pressure.
Current promotional material also connects the uprising to
stories that later helped shape the legend of Robin Hood, although the film
itself remains rooted in the events of the 1381 rebellion.
Jamie Bell and the Supporting Cast
Jamie Bell plays John Ball, while Cosmo Jarvis appears as
Wat Tyler. Both names are closely associated with the historical uprising.
The wider cast includes Stephen Dillane as Archbishop
Sudbury, Tom Hollander as Treasurer Hales, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller,
Woody Norman, Katherine Waterston and Sky Yang.
The large ensemble suggests that the film will explore the
conflict from several sides rather than staying entirely with one character.
Who Directed The Uprising?
Paul Greengrass directs and writes The Uprising. He is known
for films that combine political tension, grounded action and a
documentary-like sense of urgency.
His filmography includes United 93, Captain Phillips and
several entries in the Bourne series. That background makes him a natural fit
for a story about ordinary people caught inside a rapidly escalating political
conflict.
Why the Movie Could Stand Out
The Uprising arrives in a fall season crowded with
franchises, horror films and major studio releases, but its historical subject
gives it a different identity.
The combination of Andrew Garfield, Paul Greengrass and a
violent medieval rebellion could appeal to audiences who enjoy historical epics
as well as viewers looking for a serious action drama.
The film is also rated R for violence and bloody images,
indicating that the battle scenes may be more intense and realistic than a
typical mainstream historical adventure.
Runtime and Rating
Current theatrical listings give The Uprising a runtime of
approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes.
The film is rated R in the United States for violence and
bloody images.
The Uprising Release Date
The Uprising is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in
the United States on September 11, 2026 through Focus Features.
Some international markets are scheduled to receive the film
around the same week.
Final Thoughts
The Uprising has the ingredients of a serious fall
historical drama: a major lead actor, an experienced director, a politically
charged true-story backdrop and a large ensemble cast.
Andrew Garfield’s Ploughman appears to anchor the movie
emotionally, while the rebellion itself gives Paul Greengrass room to stage
large, chaotic confrontations with the urgency that defines much of his work.
If the film successfully balances history, character and
spectacle, The Uprising could become one of the more distinctive releases of
September 2026.
Reference Sources
Focus Features - The Uprising official film page and release announcement
Rotten Tomatoes - The Uprising cast, runtime, rating and release listing
Associated Press - Fall 2026 movie guide