The Uprising: Paul Greengrass Film Reimagines 1381 Peasants' Revolt

Paul Greengrass's new film 'The Uprising' dramatizes the 1381 Peasants' Revolt, focusing on a fictional everyman, the Ploughman (Andrew Garfield), who joins the rebellion against oppressive taxation. The film, set for US release on September 10, 2026, stars Jamie Bell as John Ball, Thomasin McKenzie as Alyce, and Cosmo Jarvis as Wat Tyler. Greengrass, known for 'Captain Phillips' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum', was inspired by parallels between the Black Death and the Covid-19 pandemic. The historical revolt began on May 30, 1381, in Essex, spreading to Kent and London, where rebels breached the Tower of London for the first time, executing Archbishop Simon of Sudbury and Treasurer Robert Hales. The uprising, sparked by a poll tax, demanded an end to serfdom and redistribution of church wealth. Historian Andrew Prescott of the University of Glasgow notes the revolt's legacy inspired later uprisings, while author Dan Jones served as historical consultant. The film reimagines the events from the perspective of ordinary participants, highlighting the rebels' diverse backgrounds and the eventual suppression, including the killing of Wat Tyler and execution of John Ball. The revolt's aftermath saw Richard II retract concessions, but it paved the way for feudalism's decline.