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.”
Suddenly, 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.
“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.
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.
Momoa 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.
Momoa 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 challenge for Chief of War wasn’t getting into physical shape. It was gearing up for the emotional endurance the project required.
“You’re overseeing the whole vision of everything, you’re involved in every department, learning a language that you don’t know, being responsible for your culture and making sure you get it all right. I was shitting my pants on many levels,” he admits.
Onscreen, Momoa is mostly pantsless. Making a show true to its cultural origins means male characters wear a malo, a traditional Hawaiian garment that consists of a simple wrap-around cloth.
“It’s really comfortable,” Momoa says. “I’m not trying to attract any more attention to myself, but I actually don’t mind wearing a malo. It gives you a lot of strength, a lot of power and makes you feel like a man. It’s a really beautiful thing.”
When I ask Momoa if he had to mentally prepare for being shirtless for nine episodes, he chuckles.
“I am not a big fan of wearing clothes,” he says. “I’m fine walking around with a malo; it’s just everybody else makes it awkward.”
During our conversation, Momoa’s camera was off. It’s then that he flips on his video, showing me he’s bare-chested.
“I’m in shorts, it’s cool,” he smiles, flashing his signature grin. “I figured I shouldn’t be sitting here naked — we’re doing an interview.”
“Hey, be free!” I reply.
“In all honesty, you see more of me on the show than you do on this Zoom,” he jokes. (It’s true.)
Manifesting a legacy
Much like his physical presence onscreen, Chief of War allows Momoa to be unapologetically himself — not just in body, but in soul. The series is far more than a career milestone; it’s a reflection of his heart. Every aspect of the show, from the casting to the costumes, is infused with his passion for telling an authentic. respectful story. His commitment to his heritage shines through, down to the tattoo on his head.
“I had the aumakua put on my head for this role,” he says. Momoa’s aumakua, a kind of ancestral guardian in Hawaiian tradition, is shark teeth. He has the pattern tattooed on his arm as well. “We weren’t even greenlit yet [by AppleTV+], but I put that on, willing it.”
For Momoa, getting the tattoo on his head — a permanent mark that connects him to his roots — was a powerful act of commitment.
He’s also dedicated to the roles he plays offscreen, especially dad. The actor’s biggest motivation is his kids. Momoa has Nakoa-Wolf and a daughter, Lola, 17, with his now ex-wife, Lisa Bonet.
“Right now they get to see their father doing what they love to do. I can’t say that was true when they were first born. I was just trying to make it as an actor. But now, [I get to work on] things I’ve wanted to do my whole life. And I expect that out of them too. For them to live their dreams and fight for it — it’s not easy, and they know that.”
Like any actor, Momoa took roles early in his career that didn’t always fuel his passion. Aquaman afforded him different opportunities. Momoa quickly became one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood, landing more roles in the DC Universe and other blockbuster franchises like Dune and Fast & Furious. This year, he starred as Garrett “the Garbage Man” Garrison in A Minecraft Movie, which is close to passing the $1 billion mark at the global box office. He says it’s “pretty cute” how many kids come up to him now about a role other than Aquaman.
“I get ‘Garbage Man’ now, and it’s the f***ing greatest thing in the world,” he says.
There’s a reason why it holds extra meaning.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever told this to, but my father was a garbage man,” he says.
Momoa then describes how his dad, Joseph, would begin his route at 4 a.m. After finishing, Joseph would go home to sleep for a few hours, then spend the rest of the day painting. “When I was little, he would paint all night, then he’d do his garbage routine,” Momoa says, reflecting on his father’s unwavering passion for both his craft as an artist and his job.
From a young age, Momoa absorbed the dedication required to pursue one’s dreams, no matter the sacrifices.
“I’m like, f*** yeah! I am the garbage man,” he says. “My dad was a garbage man. … So many of these people are doing the job they have to do, to do what they love to do.”
As Momoa reflects on his career, it’s apparent that his success isn’t just about accolades or box office numbers — it’s about creating a life he can share with those he loves. “At the end of the day, I’m doing everything in my power to make an impact, whether it be on- or offscreen,” he says.
And with Chief of War, he has finally created something he can proudly call his own, a project that not only honors his past but also shapes the future for his children.
