It’s Jason Momoa’s World, We’re Just Living In It

When Jason Momoa appears on my screen for our scheduled Zoom call, there’s a brief moment of confusion.

There he was in his homeland of Hawaii when reports indicated production was officially underway for both Dune: Part Three over in Hungary – which he’s set to headline alongside his son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa – and the forthcoming Street Fighter adaptation he’s signed on for right here in Sydney.

So just how many Jason Momoas are there globetrotting for all these projects?

“I was also in Birmingham with Black Sabbath, and I just played a concert in Milwaukee yesterday… Welcome to my life, bro,” he chuckles after a delightfully boisterous “G’day mate” that set the tone for our conversation.

Full calendar aside, the focus of today’s conversation was his latest passion project: reuniting with Apple TV+ for the historical miniseries Chief of War.

Somewhere between Disney+’s Shogun and the Travis Fimmel-led Vikings – and having already drawn obvious comparisons to Game of Thrones – the drama depicts the unification of the Hawaiian islands when the four major kingdoms (Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi) were still at war with one another. Compelling realpolitik, Hans Zimmer score, and all.

The story begins towards the end of the 18th century and is framed from the perspective of legendary warrior chief Ka’iana (Jason Momoa), who returns to familiar shores after exploring the world to join a bloody campaign.

Momoa co-created the limited series alongside Thomas Pa’a Sibbett.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Aotearoa or our Kiwi brothers,” he admitted about New Zealand as the core location for principal photography and the “melting pot” of an almost entirely Polynesian cast.

“It was unbelievable. At the end of the day, what this offered was a beautiful unification of Polynesia – not only my cast and crew. You see something that hasn’t been done on this level with so many different cultures that care, coming together and learning this language [Ōlelo Hawaiʻi], and bringing the best Polynesian A-talent on screen.”

Jason Momoa continued: “I think once this comes out, kids in Tahiti and Fiji and Vanuatu, I mean everywhere – even in Australia – it’s going to be a massive win for Polynesian representation.”

“Once Were Warriors was everything to me. Growing up, I looked up to Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison. Those were really the only two brown-skinned guys I had that were just like, ‘Who am I going to be? Who can I follow in the footsteps of?’ And look how great they are as actors. Hopefully, this can be the same for the next generation.”

“A lot of people come to Hawaii, they take beautiful memories back to their homes. And now, they’ll get to see what was here: a culture that they may not have known. I’m excited for them to see that.”

Where do you even begin with a role as larger-than-life as Ka’iana? The famed ruler who voyaged everywhere from Kaua’i to Canton (otherwise known as China’s Guangzhou) and rebelled against Kamehameha I.

A cursory glance at his Wikipedia entry would confirm that Chief of War could’ve easily spanned several seasons. But Momoa and Pa’a Sibbett had the discipline to “tighten the timeframe” for a single epic run, while still preserving the cadence of historical events.

“There were certain story points that just had to happen,” explained Jason Momoa.

“Ultimately, Ka’iana was a vehicle for us to really talk about what was happening here in Hawaii… There’s no way I could tell Ka’iana’s complete story. It’s just too much. There were so many beautiful kings and queens that we had. So it became about making something impactful that would be able to tell a broad story.”

“I would never play those other characters, either. I just don’t have that in me,” he added.

“Even if someone offered me $20 million to play Kamehameha, I was like, ‘There’s no f**king way. I’m not doing it.’ I would never do it, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have that in me (nor would I ever want to play that).”

It also helps that Momoa considers Ka’iana by far and away the most compelling assignment: “You get to be this man who’s obviously a reluctant warrior, who doesn’t want to be chief, and who doesn’t want to go to war anymore.”

“The things that he’s seen, the PTSD from his father and the trauma he’s endured. And then when he leaves to go see the world – he sees slavery, poverty, what’s coming for them. Then to come back, but he’s poisoned by the outside world.”

“His whole perspective has changed. There’s no f**king gods out there. They do whatever the hell they want and this is coming… It’s wonderfully complex to play as an actor, know what I mean? You try to figure out what he’s thinking. That s**t’s interesting to play, man.”

Much like the vast majority of his roles, Jason Momoa cuts an imposing figure in Chief of War. More powerlifter than underwear model, remarkably enough, his physical gravitas as Ka’iana dwarfs his portrayal as a literal comic book superhero.

Though this preparation (or rather lack thereof) may surprise you.

“I’m not going to lie to you, bro. I don’t really train. I don’t have time for that,” he replied with a shrug, alluding to the juggling act of leading man, co-creator, and, for the series finale, director.

“I’m a big fan of eating and drinking, and I work really hard. Like sure, I’ll have some Guinness. But that ain’t doing s**t to me. I’m f**king flying at the speed of light, running around a lava field in a malo. We’re writing, directing, making all these choices, learning a language that I don’t know, helping everyone on set and cast to pull off this massive undertaking.”

Momoa continued: “So I’m shovelling in food just because I need fuel. I’m not sitting down, dude, I’m living every moment of it… I’ve been doing stunts for 27 years. If I need to do some squats to keep my legs alive, stretching is good. But I don’t have time to go to the gym and hit s**t.”

Sadly, the run-and-gun approach to becoming screen-fit isn’t approved for every gig he takes on. Such is the case for his hotly anticipated return to a certain sci-fi universe conceived by Frank Herbert (and wonderfully translated to the big screen by Denis Villeneuve).

“For Dune, I have to lose a significant amount of weight, so I’ll start training soon,” Jason Momoa grimaced.

“I like training for characters in the sense of fight training. So I’m doing a lot of boxing right now. We’ll do a lot of sword training. I’ll cut a lot of weight to play Duncan Idaho, which just means eating healthier or less, you know what I mean? And try not to drink as much. Whereas normally, I’m constantly active. I’m running around the planet in 10 different directions, so I’m burning something.”

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He caveated this immediately after with the following: “I’m not saying it’s the healthiest way to live, but I’m living my life. I’m doing everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I have a beautiful lady [Adria Arjona] I’m in love with. I have children that I’m dying to always constantly be with, and a career that I’m doing everything I want to do.”

On top of all this, Momoa outlines the 20-person business he maintains to handle the many fingers he has in just as many pies, his advocacy efforts surrounding environmentalism (what’s usually a full-time endeavour on its own), as well as all the politics that come with both Hollywood and activism.

“There’s just tonnes of stuff to do and a whole lot of life to live… so I’ll try to be healthier, but there’s nothing quite like just cracking a f**king brew.”

“Damn, you made me thirsty. I’m going to need another one, man,” he chuckled.

If there’s one thing Jason Momoa makes abundantly clear, it’s that he’s nourished in every possible sense. Even in the chaos of his professional day-to-day, there is a never-ending well of gratitude he can drink from.

And when it’s time to refresh the soul before he charges back into battle?

“Motorcycles. No doubt. Mostly getting in the wind and being with friends and riding in the wind… It’s a beautiful thing, man. I love motorcycles (fixing ’em and riding them),” he offered.

“Playing music’s been really beautiful too. I feel like I get my life back when I play music. Life kind of pauses when you’re actually creating. Music fills you back up.”

Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa, Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, and plenty more, is now streaming via Apple TV+.