The Uprising: The real medieval revolt that inspired Andrew Garfield's new film

Phys · Sep 25, 2026 · 936 words · By Alex Brown

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What to know about The Uprising: The real medieval revolt that inspired Andrew Garfield's new film

The article compares the plot of the upcoming film 'The Uprising' with the historical realities of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. It details the rebels' actual motivations, including opposition to poll taxes and serfdom, and their paradoxical loyalty to King Richard II.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 21

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The Uprising: The real medieval revolt that inspired Andrew Garfield's new film Gaby Clark Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Chief Editor The Uprising, a medieval drama directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, is set to hit theaters this fall.

Why it matters

The film draws its inspiration from the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England.

Common ground

The studio's synopsis presents the uprising as a "rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II," with Garfield leading "an army of the people to face the king's might in a fight for justice and survival." Yet medieval accounts of the uprising describe the…

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: The Uprising: The real medieval revolt that inspired Andrew Garfield's new film?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The Anonimalle Chronicle reported that they "burned all the register books and chancery remembrancers' rolls" they found at Lambeth Palace?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-09-uprising-real-medieval-revolt-andrew.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 21 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 11

verified Verified By Reference 3

check_circle Corroborated 2

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “The Anonimalle Chronicle reported that they "burned all the register books and chancery remembrancers' rolls" they found at Lambeth Palace.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Thomas Walsingham, a 14th-century monk of St Albans Abbey... claimed 600 men-at-arms and 600 archers were garrisoned there”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Wat Tyler, a key leader of the revolt, was killed by William Walworth, the mayor of London, at Smithfield.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 4: “The challenge was "with whom haldes [holds] yow?"—to which the appropriate reply was said to be "Wyth kynge Richarde and wyth the trew communes [commoners]."”

VERIFIED

A specialized historical source (Medievalists.net) explicitly confirms the watchword 'With whom haldes you' and the response 'Wyth kynge Richarde and wyth the trew communes'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of Sheriffs of the City of London. Pursuant to a royal charter of Henry I c. 1131, the liverymen of the City elected two sheriffs of "London and Middlesex" upon payment of £300 per annu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sheriffs_of_the_City_o…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Saint Richardis (Latin: Richgardis, Richardis), also known as Richgard, Richardis of Swabia and Richarde de Souabe in French (c. 840 – 18 September, between 894 and 896 AD), was empress of the Carolin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardis

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web search NEUTRAL — The aims of the rebels. The uprising of 1381 was in part caused by widespread discontent at government corruption. Richard succeeded to the throne in 1377 at just ten years old.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uprising-real-medieval-revolt-insp…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “they destroyed Temple Bar, including the "many muniments which the lawyers were keeping in custody."”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 6: “The Uprising, a medieval drama directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, is set to hit theaters this fall.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (YouTube, web reviews, and Wikipedia) confirm the film 'The Uprising' is directed by Paul Greengrass and stars Andrew Garfield. While Wikipedia lists a 2026 date, other sources mention an October 9 release (implied fall), corroborating the general claim.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Uprising (briefly marketed in the US as The Uprising: The Rise of Robin Hood) is a 2026 historical action drama film written, produced and directed by Paul Greengrass. It stars Andrew Garfield, Ja…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uprising_(2026_film)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie (born 26 July 2000) is a New Zealand actress. After a minor role in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), she rose to critical prominence for playing a young gir…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomasin_McKenzie

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Andrew Russell Garfield (born 20 August 1983) is an English and American actor. He is known for his work across a variety of genres, from biographical dramas to action films, spanning both independent…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Garfield

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 7: “Richard succeeded to the throne in 1377 at just 10 years old.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple historical web sources confirm Richard II ascended the throne in 1377 at the age of 10.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_II

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Life and Death of King Richard the Second (1595), also Richard II, is a Shakespearean history play about the lifetime and reign of King Richard II of England (r. 1377–1399). As a dramatised period…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_(play)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Richard II (6 January 1367 – c. 14 February 1400), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince and Joan of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_of_England

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 8: “His young reign was largely overseen by his uncle, John of Gaunt, and royal councilors.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one source (Morning Star) explicitly states that his young reign was 'largely overseen by his uncle, John of Gaunt, and royal councillors'. Other sources mention Gaunt's influence but not in these exact terms.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — His young reign was largely overseen by his uncle, John of Gaunt, and royal councillors. The hundred years war (1337-1453) between England and France was going badly for the English cause, and the cro…
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/revolt-against-feuda…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 1389 the king’s ncle, John of Gaunt, returned to England and settled his differences and made peace with the king, after which the old statesman acted as a moderating influence on English politics.
https://europeanroyalhistory.wordpress.com/tag/radcot-bridge…

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web search NEUTRAL — King Richard II. Joined by other villagers from all corners of the southeast of England, the peasants decided to march on London in order to plead their case for a better deal before their young king.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Wat-T…

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Claim 9: “The poll taxes were, after all, discontinued—and would not be resurrected for centuries.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 10: “The Anonimalle Chronicle, an anonymous 14th-century account written at St Mary's Abbey in York by a probable eyewitness to the revolt, reported that the rebels had a watchword among themselves.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about DaVinci Resolve and general Wikipedia entries about the Peasants' Revolt and St Mary's Abbey, but none specifically mention the 'Anonimalle Chronicle' or the report of a watchword.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Peasants' Revolt, also named Wat Tyler's Rebellion or the Great Uprising, was a major uprising across large parts of England in 1381. The revolt had various causes, including the socio-economic a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants'_Revolt

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Abbey of St Mary is a ruined Benedictine abbey in York, England and a scheduled monument.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary's_Abbey,_York

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, KG (c. 14 February 1313 – 13 November 1369), sometimes styled as Lord Warwick, was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Beauchamp,_11th_Earl_of…

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 11: “The Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) between England and France was going badly for the English cause”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple authoritative history sources (Britannica, World History Encyclopedia, History.com) confirm the Hundred Years' War took place between 1337 and 1453 between England and France.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between the monarchs of France and England. Starting in 1337 and not finally ended until 1453, the war lasted for 116 years, albeit not with continuous fighting b…
https://www.worldhistory.org/Hundred_Years'_War/

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web search NEUTRAL — Hundred Years’ War, intermittent struggle between England and France in the 14th–15th century over a series of disputes, including the question of the legitimate succession to the French crown.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Hundred-Years-War

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) was a complicated ongoing conflict between the kingdoms of England and France, rooted in territorial disputes and control of the French crown. Spanning about 116 yea…
https://www.history.com/articles/hundred-years-war

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Claim 12: “the Anonimalle Chronicle reported that they [the rebels] were said to have knelt before him [King Richard], saying: "Welcome our lord king Richard, if it pleases you, and we will not have any other king but you."”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 13: “The deeply unpopular "poll taxes" were raised three times in five years (1377, 1379 and 1381)—the last of which triggered the uprising.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant results for 'Poll Maker' and 'Microsoft Forms' software, rather than historical data on 14th-century poll taxes.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Free poll creator lets you create easy polls with no signups and no restrictions.
https://www.poll-maker.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Collect better data to make better decisions. Get feedback effortlessly with simplified surveys, polls, and quizzes.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/online-surveys…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Use our free poll maker to create a poll in seconds. StrawPoll offers a simple and fast poll generator, whether you want to create anonymous polls for a large audience or a quick poll with friends.
https://strawpoll.com/create/

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Claim 14: “Among others, they seized and beheaded the archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, who was also the chancellor of England, and Sir Robert Hales, the treasurer of England.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “The rebels besieged the Tower of London and managed to enter it.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 16: “Knighton described how the king granted a charter under his great seal "declaring that all men in the realm of England should be free."”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “The film draws its inspiration from the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and promotional materials for the film, explicitly state that 'The Uprising' is inspired by the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a chronological list of revolts organized by peasants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peasant_revolts

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 18: “They also demanded an end to outlawry... that there be no lords except the king himself; that the goods of the church be divided among the people of the parish; and that there be no serfdom, but that all men be free.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 19: “They destroyed the Savoy Palace in London, belonging to Gaunt, along with his household possessions.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.

help

Claim 20: “During a parliament in Edward III's reign in 1376, it had been claimed that various people "have in their hands without the king's knowledge his wealth and treasure."”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.

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Claim 21: “After the suppression of the uprising, however, the charter was "quashed, annulled and adjudged worthless."”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.