
The Uprising is a historical action-drama directed and written by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass. Released in 2026, the movie brings the turbulent world of medieval England to the screen through a story of rebellion, social inequality, justice, and survival. Andrew Garfield leads the cast alongside Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, and Katherine Waterston.
Inspired by the real events of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, The Uprising follows ordinary people who rise against the authority of King Richard II. The film combines historical events with fictionalized storytelling to create a dramatic portrait of a society facing enormous political and economic pressure.
The story is set in 14th-century England, a period marked by social divisions, political uncertainty, war, and economic hardship. The historical rebellion at the center of the film became one of the most important popular uprisings in medieval English history.
The real Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 involved thousands of people who protested against taxation and broader social conditions. Rebels eventually moved toward London, creating a major crisis for the young King Richard II.
The Uprising uses this historical background as the foundation for its story while presenting the events through individual characters and their personal experiences.
This approach allows the movie to explore the rebellion not simply as a historical event, but as a human story about people demanding change.
Andrew Garfield plays a central character known as the Ploughman. The character is connected to the film’s portrayal of ordinary people caught up in a rapidly changing political environment.
Rather than presenting the story exclusively from the perspective of kings and nobles, the movie focuses attention on people from lower social classes.
The Ploughman’s journey provides an emotional connection to the larger historical events. His experiences demonstrate how political decisions made by powerful institutions can affect ordinary families and communities.
Garfield’s leading performance gives the character a strong presence while helping audiences understand the motivations behind the rebellion.
At the center of The Uprising is a growing movement against royal authority.
The people involved in the rebellion have different reasons for becoming involved, but their dissatisfaction is connected to taxation, inequality, and the difficult conditions of medieval society.
As tensions increase, the movement becomes larger and more organized.
The film presents the rebellion as a major turning point. What begins as dissatisfaction eventually develops into a confrontation between ordinary people and the established political order.
The story therefore creates a strong sense of historical momentum as characters realize that their actions could change the future.
King Richard II is another important part of the story.
The historical Richard II was a young monarch when the Peasants’ Revolt occurred. His position placed him at the center of a political crisis that threatened the stability of his kingdom.
The movie explores the complicated relationship between the monarchy and the people demanding change.
Rather than portraying medieval politics as a simple conflict between heroes and villains, the story examines how fear, power, loyalty, and political decisions influence the actions of different groups.
This gives the historical drama a broader perspective.
The film also includes real historical figures associated with the 1381 rebellion.
Jamie Bell plays John Ball, the radical preacher who became one of the movement’s best-known voices, while Cosmo Jarvis portrays Wat Tyler, one of the rebellion’s principal leaders.
Their presence connects the fictional elements of the story to the historical events that inspired the movie.
John Ball became famous for challenging social hierarchy and questioning the inequality of medieval society. Wat Tyler, meanwhile, became a central figure in the march toward London.
By incorporating these historical figures, The Uprising creates a connection between individual characters and the larger political movement.
One of the major themes of The Uprising is the idea of justice.
The people involved in the rebellion believe that the existing system has become unfair. Their demands reflect frustration with economic burdens and social inequality.
The film uses these conflicts to explore a question that remains relevant across different historical periods: what happens when ordinary people believe the system no longer represents their interests?
This theme gives the movie more depth than a conventional medieval action story.
The historical setting may be centuries removed from modern society, but the questions surrounding power, fairness, and social responsibility remain recognizable.
Although The Uprising is based on historical events, it is important to understand that the movie is a dramatization rather than a documentary.
The filmmakers use real people and historical circumstances while also creating fictional characters and dramatic situations.
For example, Andrew Garfield’s Ploughman is a fictionalized central figure rather than a straightforward portrayal of a documented historical person. The movie therefore combines historical research with cinematic storytelling.
This approach allows the filmmakers to create a more personal narrative while keeping the major historical rebellion at the heart of the film.
Paul Greengrass directs and writes The Uprising. He is known for making films that place audiences close to major historical or political events.
His approach is particularly suited to a story involving social unrest and a large-scale historical movement.
The film’s focus on ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances allows Greengrass to combine personal drama with a much larger historical backdrop.
His direction also gives the story a grounded and serious tone.
The supporting cast adds considerable depth to the historical world.
Stephen Dillane plays Archbishop Sudbury, while Tom Hollander portrays Treasurer Hales. Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, Katherine Waterston, and other performers also contribute to the ensemble.
The large cast reflects the different layers of medieval society represented in the story.
Peasants, religious figures, political leaders, nobles, and ordinary citizens all become part of the larger narrative.
This helps the film portray the rebellion as a society-wide crisis rather than a conflict involving only a handful of characters.
The Uprising combines historical drama with action and suspense. The film has a reported runtime of approximately 128 minutes, giving the story enough space to establish its characters and historical setting.
The action elements help communicate the scale and uncertainty of the rebellion, while the dramatic scenes focus on the personal consequences of political conflict.
This combination makes the movie suitable for viewers who enjoy serious historical stories with large-scale events and character-driven storytelling.
One particularly interesting element surrounding The Uprising is its connection to the Robin Hood legend.
The historical rebellion helped inspire stories and ideas about ordinary people challenging powerful authorities. Focus Features describes the uprising portrayed in the film as an event that helped inspire the legend of Robin Hood.
The movie therefore sits at an interesting point between documented history and popular mythology.
Rather than being a traditional Robin Hood movie, it explores the historical circumstances that contributed to the cultural ideas associated with rebellion and resistance.
There are several reasons to watch The Uprising.
First, it offers a dramatic interpretation of a significant moment in English history.
Second, it features a strong cast led by Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell, and several established actors.
Third, Paul Greengrass brings a serious filmmaking style to a story involving political conflict and social change.
Finally, the movie explores themes that remain interesting even outside its medieval setting, including justice, inequality, leadership, loyalty, and the relationship between ordinary people and those in power.
Overall, The Uprising is an ambitious historical drama that transforms the events of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt into a large-scale cinematic story.
Andrew Garfield’s Ploughman provides a personal perspective on a much larger historical movement, while Jamie Bell’s John Ball and Cosmo Jarvis’s Wat Tyler connect the fictionalized story to real historical figures.
With Paul Greengrass directing and a talented ensemble cast supporting the story, The Uprising offers a compelling combination of historical drama, action, political conflict, and emotional storytelling.
For viewers interested in medieval history, historical rebellions, powerful character-driven dramas, and stories about ordinary people challenging established authority, The Uprising is a notable 2026 film to explore.