New Zealand film Beyond the Edge has cast the two lead roles of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

General Film Corporation (Giselle, Love Birds, Dean Spanley) has announced Nelson actor Chad Moffit will step into the legendary role of a young Ed Hillary, with Tenzing Norgay played by Mt. Cook resident Sonam Sherpa.

New Zealand film Beyond the Edge has cast the two lead roles of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

General Film Corporation (Giselle, Love Birds, Dean Spanley) has announced Nelson actor Chad Moffit will step into the legendary role of a young Ed Hillary, with Tenzing Norgay played by Mt. Cook resident Sonam Sherpa.

The 3D feature film tells the story of Sir Edmund Hillary’s monumental 1953 ascent of Mt. Everest.

Producer Matthew Metcalfe said, “After an exhaustive search we were thrilled to discover Chad and Sonam. They will be in great hands with a team of talented world-class Kiwi filmmakers including director Leanne Pooley, Oscar-winning production designer Grant Major and acclaimed New Zealand cinematographer, Richard Bluck.”

The New Zealand Film Commission has invested in the production in association with NZ On Air’s Platinum Fund, Digifilm, TVNZ and Rialto Distribution.  The project is being made with the assistance of the New Zealand government’s Screen Production Incentive Fund (with finance from ANZ).

Principal photography for Beyond the Edge commences in New Zealand on March 3 at Aoraki/ Mt. Cook.

Rialto Distribution will release Beyond the Edge in New Zealand and Australia in 2013.

Media Release: NZFC