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Jason Momoa is set to star, co-write, and executive produce a TV show about Hawaiian history for Apple TV+. Chief of War will follow “the story of the unification and colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view.”
In May 2025, the streamer shared the first teaser trailer:
Here’s what we know so far.
What is Chief of War about?
“This epic adventure begins at turn of the 18th century when the four major kingdoms of Hawaii were in a state of war. Based on the true story of Ka’iana, a war chieftain who travels to the outside world and learns more about the men invading his island home. Knowing the separate kingdoms will eventually crumble under the weight of foreign interests, he returns home and joins a bloody campaign to unite the warring islands in order to save them from destruction,” a plot summary reads on a casting call.
The unification of Hawaii took place from 1782 to 1810 under King Kamehameha I, and Ka’iana (whom Momoa will portray) was called the “Prince of Kaua’i” and the “most famous Hawaiian in the world.”
Chief of War first filmed in Hawaii, and in a casting call posted to Sibbett’s Instagram, he wrote, “We need warriors, chiefs, and strong women for speaking roles. To my Polynesian Ohana, I want everyone, bradah working construction, Aunty at Manuheali’i, anyone who has wanted to audition for Hollywood, let’s do it!” On location filming wrapped in Hawaii in December 2022; according to Hawaii News Now, around 600 local residents were hired for the local production. The production then moved to New Zealand in January 2023.
It’s a personal project for Jason Momoa.
Momoa, whose full name is Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, was born in Nānākuli, Honolulu, Hawaii, to a Native Hawaiian father and a white mom from Iowa. His parents split when he was young, and he was raised in Iowa. According to Vanity Fair, Momoa will “mine his own background for the project.”
Chief of War, Momoa tells Men’s Health, is his “baby” and his “dream.” He says, “I never thought it would be this big. It’s the hardest, most challenging, most demanding thing I’ve ever done. It’s the last big dream I have left. Everything else is just kind of ‘actor for hire,’ but this is my homage to my people. We have so many beautiful stories in Hawaii that no one knows about. All I care about is just doing right by my people.”
He’s been open previously about his Hawaiian identity. “I was born in Hawaii. My dad grew up in a Quonset hut on Hakimo Road,” Momoa said in 2018. “I would spend my summers there and it was very, very different growing up in Nanakuli, which is beautiful, with the most loving family, with all my cousins there, because there’s not too many white people down there. But my mom made it over there in the ’70s and met an amazing Hawaiian family and had me.”
“I think there’s a lot of problems in Hawaii. There’s a lot of things that have happened in our history, a lot of injustice, and so we’re shining a light on it,” Momoa told CNN in 2019. “For my soul I need to be there. If I’m not working, I’m trying to get over there.”
He co-wrote Chief of War with Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. Doug Jung will serve as the showrunner, and Justin Chon will direct the first two episodes of the series.
Who else is in the cast?
Temuera Morrison will play King Kahekili, the King of Maui. Morrison, a New Zealand actor, is of is Māori and Tainui descent. He previously worked with Momoa on the Aquaman films.
The roles of other historical Hawaiian royalty were also announced:
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Te Ao o Hinepehinga as Kupuohi, the wife of Ka’iana (Momoa’s character)
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Siua Ikale’o as Ka’iana’s brother, Nahi
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Kaina Makua as Kamehameha, the first King of the unified Hawaii
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Luciane Buchanan as Ka’ahumanu, the favorite wife of King Kamehameha I
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Brandon Finn as Prince Kūpule, the son of King Kahekili
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Mainei Kinimaka as Heke, Kupuohi’s younger sister
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Te Kohe Tuhaka as Namake another of Ka’iana’s brothers
In addition, Moses Goods will play Kamehameha’s Chief Advisor, Moku, and James Udom will portray a runaway enslaved man, Tony.
When does Chief of War premiere?
The series will premiere with two episodes on August 1, with weekly episodes dropping through September 19.
How to watch Chief of War:
The nine-episode series will air on Apple TV+.
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