Andrew Garfield has made his intentions clear about what he hopes audiences take away from The Uprising, his upcoming historical drama directed by Paul Greengrass. While the movie is set in 14th-century England, Garfield believes its themes surrounding wealth, political power, inequality and rebellion remain highly relevant today.
During a recent Q&A with Greengrass, Garfield was asked what he wanted audiences to feel after watching the movie. His answer was particularly pointed toward the world’s wealthiest people, saying he hoped they would be “scared shitless” by the film’s message.
Andrew Garfield Wants The Uprising to Spark an Awakening
Garfield explained that he hopes The Uprising does more than simply entertain audiences. He wants viewers to recognize parallels between the struggles of the film’s characters and problems affecting people today.
“I hope it’s galvanizing. I hope there’s some awakening that people feel, that they feel that their own struggles are being reflected in the struggles of these characters from a distant time and place,”
Garfield said during the Q&A.
He then added,
“And I hope that if any billionaires watch it, they’re scared shitless.”
The comment reflects the broader themes of The Uprising, which is inspired by the historical rebellion that helped contribute to the legend of Robin Hood. Garfield plays a leader who gathers an army of ordinary people to challenge the authority of King Richard II.
The film follows the rebellion as war spreads across England and the common people rise against royal oppression in a fight for justice and survival. The cast also includes Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller and Katherine Waterston.
The Film Connects Medieval Inequality With Modern Society
Garfield has previously discussed how the historical circumstances behind The Uprising reminded him of present-day social and economic tensions. In an interview with Esquire, the actor pointed to brutal conditions for working-class people, heavy taxation following the plague, government failures and the treatment of the poor as less than human.
When asked whether those conditions could still resonate with modern audiences, Garfield responded that they could apply in Britain, the United States and elsewhere.
Greengrass also emphasized the film’s central idea of healing. When a line from the movie,
“There will be no peace until we are healed,”
was raised during the Q&A, the director agreed that its message remains relevant centuries later.
Garfield went further by arguing that wealthy people could also be part of the film’s examination of social dysfunction. He suggested that those with immense power may have their own forms of spiritual or moral damage that require addressing.
Despite its medieval setting, The Uprising is therefore being positioned as a contemporary political drama through the lens of historical events. Garfield has described the movie as something of a “Rorschach Test,” suggesting that viewers with different political perspectives could interpret its themes in very different ways.
Directed and written by Paul Greengrass, The Uprising is scheduled to open in theaters on September 10, 2026.
