Jason Momoa talks to Yahoo about his new passion project Chief of War and how Aquaman helped make it possible. (Photo illustration: Aïda Amer for Yahoo News; photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images)Jason Momoa hadn't always considered himself a betting man, but in 2014 he went all in on himself. By the time he was cast in the titular role of Aquaman, the superhero film had been in development, in one form or another, since 2004. Many in the industry had written it off. But Momoa knew the risk could be worth it."That was probably the biggest gamble of my life," Momoa tells me over Zoom. The 2018 film shattered expectations and instantly made Momoa one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood."It went for the best," he says. "We were taking a character that was the laughingstock of comic books and trying to make something out of it. But after [it was released in theaters], it was the first time kids were coming up to me [in public] saying, 'Aquaman!' It changed everything."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSuddenly, Momoa was catapulted to a level of fame most actors only dream of. "I put in the hard work," he tells me. "I proved myself." For some stars, reaching superhero status means buying the dream house, the dream car - probably both. But for Momoa, it meant setting his sights on something bigger. After years of playing roles in other people's stories, he is finally telling his own: the story of his ancestors, which is the basis for his new television series, Chief of War."If someone were to ask me, 'What would you want to do?' This is it," he tells me about his passion project, which premieres on AppleTV+ Aug. 1. "I would like to tell the story of our people."'This is me, dumping my soul into this show'Momoa's heritage is a blend of his Hawaiian father's roots from Nanakuli and his mother's Midwestern upbringing in Norwalk, Iowa. But it's his connection to Hawaii, where he was born, in Honolulu, that shapes much of his identity and drives his passion for telling stories that honor his cultural background.
Momoa's charm and humor are on full display as we chat for almost 30 minutes on a laid-back Zoom call. It's clear he's not just a hero onscreen but also a storyteller with a heart as big as his larger-than-life persona. Chief of War is his soul laid bare. The series is more than just a career milestone; it's the culmination of 27 years of hard work and passion and a deep commitment to sharing his culture's history with the world.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Growing up, you see films like The Last of the Mohicans and The Last Samurai - stories that represent warriors, but we've never had that for our people. I wanted to make sure this was something that truly represented who we are," Momoa tells me.
Chief of War is a nine-episode historical drama created by Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, who share native Hawaiian heritage. It's based on true events and follows warrior Ka'iana (played by Momoa) as he strives to unify the Hawaiian islands before Western colonization in the late 18th century. Told from an Indigenous perspective, it features a predominantly Polynesian cast.
Jason Momoa talks about Chief of War. (Photo illustration: Aïda Amer for Yahoo News; photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images)As star, writer and executive producer, Momoa knew he had to walk a fine line as he balanced aligning historical significance with his creative vision, as well as creating a television show audiences will stream.
After watching the whole season, it's hard not to draw comparisons between Chief of War and Game of Thrones, the Emmy-winning series that gave Momoa a huge career boost in 2011. Both are rooted in complex power struggles and rich cultures and have epic battle scenes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMomoa is quick to note one key difference, though."[Game of Thrones is] a fantasy world," he says. "Obviously, there are many different things that match, but these are all historical things that happened" in Chief of War.
The series features no dragons, but the battle scenes are just as intense. In it fans can see Momoa riding sharks and kicking a lot of ass. When I ask him if physically preparing for this warrior role felt different at age 45 than it did in his 30s when he was on Game of Thrones, he laughs."Yes, it does," he says, mostly because back then, he did action scenes without stunt doubles.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMomoa has been revisiting some of his old projects with his 16-year-old son, Nakoa-Wolf, who's also interested in acting. As he shows the teen some of his past work, he is reminded of how physically demanding those roles were and how much his body paid the price."We were watching some shit and I realized: You delete the pain," the actor says. "You forget about it, and then I watch all this stuff again, and I'm like, 'Oh, that's why I hurt. That's exactly why I f***ing hurt.'"Momoa says the cha