The official trailer for The Uprising shows why the upcoming historical war drama could become Andrew Garfield’s Braveheart. Seeing a glimpse of the Academy Award-nominated actor’s leading performance in the new trailer already has me excited for what’s to come.
“The film brings to life the untold true story of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II. As war burns across England, an army of commoners rises to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival,” reads the official synopsis.
The Uprising will feature Garfield playing a farmer who becomes the unlikely leader of a rebellion against a tyrannical English monarchy. It also stars Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, and Katherine Waterston. The movie is written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who’s best known for his work on the Jason Bourne franchise and 2013’s Captain Phillips movie. The film arrives in theaters on September 11, 2026.
Why Andrew Garfield’s Uprising movie could be this generation’s Braveheart
The new trailer for The Uprising instantly drew me into Garfield’s compelling portrayal of Wat Tyler, known to history as the courageous leader of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England. With his previous performances in Hacksaw Ridge and Tick, Tick… Boom!, I know that the British actor will thrive playing another underdog character in The Uprising. Even though we only got a glimpse of it from the trailer, I’m convinced that the new movie will deliver one more career-defining performance from Garfield.
Interestingly, the trailer was also surprisingly reminiscent of Mel Gibson’s iconic 1995 epic Braveheart. Even though both movies tackle different war stories, I can’t help but see the similarities between Braveheart and The Uprising in terms of their genre and themes. Like Gibson’s character William Wallace, I think Garfield’s Wat Tyler also has the potential to move audiences with his resilience, leadership, grit, and hunger for justice. Their only difference is that Wat Tyler is a character that the general audience could relate more to because he’s an everyday man who isn’t really built for rebellion. Meanwhile, Gibson’s iconic character was introduced as a warrior. With guidance from an award-winning director, Garfield’s undisputed talent, a stellar cast, and a timely story, I believe The Uprising has the makings of becoming this generation’s own version of Braveheart.
