Star Jason Momoa reveals how much he loved creating the new Apple TV+ series Chief of War

On August 1, 2025, the new American television series Chief of War will premiere on Apple TV+. There are nine episodes in all. The narrative follows Kaʻiana, a warrior and chieftain from Kauaʻi, Hawaii. He leaves the islands to establish a name for himself.

Upon his return, he joins a huge war and later opposes King Kamehameha I's attempt to unify Hawaii. The sitcom is co-produced by Jason Momoa, who also portrays the character Kaʻiana. The series, which is accessible in both Hawaiian and English, covers major periods in Hawaii's history from the early 1800s.

Jason Momoa expressed his excitement about developing Chief of War in interviews and press events running up to the show's launch on August 1, 2025. He expressed how personal and significant the project is to him, particularly because it celebrates Native Hawaiian history and culture.

In an interview with ScreenRant, the actor was asked about his directorial vision, to which he replied,

"I mean, I'm literally writing for the two my two favorite actors, so Temuera and Cliff Curtis. That scene with Cliff Curtis is the longest scene in our whole series. I wrote every beat and every moment of that for him, and you're writing for your heroes. First time they've been together since Once Were Warriors. "

"I’ve been directing for more than a decade, I love it more than acting. I want to be responsible. I want to be able to make the choices. I’m going to be judged by the choices I’m going to make."

More about Jason Momoa and Chief of War

Renowned for his performances in Aquaman and Game of Thrones, Jason Momoa is incredibly devoted to his new series Chief of War on Apple TV+. Due to his involvement in many aspects of its construction, this project holds particular significance for him. He was the main character's star, co-creator, co-writer, and director of the last episode. On August 1, 2025, the program is scheduled to debut.

A Native Hawaiian warrior from the late 1700s named Kaʻiana is the subject of the historical play Chief of War. The Hawaiian Islands were split up into independent kingdoms at the time of the narrative, and Western colonists were posing a growing danger. The emphasis on narrating the tale from the perspective of Native Hawaiians, which has not often been done on television, is what distinguishes this series. This project is highly personal to Momoa, who has Native Hawaiian ancestry herself.

Momoa co-created the show with Thomas Pa'a Sibbett. The two had been working on the concept for almost 10 years. Momoa stated that he waited until the appropriate time in his career to completely devote to this endeavor. He wants to utilize his authority to tell a true and essential tale about his culture and forefathers. The show's cast is largely Polynesian, including notable performances by Temuera Morrison and Kaina Makua.

For the series conclusion, Momoa not only acted but also served as director and he mainly revealed that he likes directing much more than performing. In some of the interviews, he talked about the difficulties of filming a complicated battle sequence that needed meticulous planning and was shot out of order. He was able to mold the narrative and make imaginative choices that reflected his vision via directing. He said,

"I'm making a fight scene that's shot completely out of order. I wanted to shoot from day into night and be able to have to shoot every character within that light scheme. So you're shooting from four in the morning till four in the afternoon, but you're shooting reverse. I’m directing five units."

The production crew worked tirelessly to make the Chief of War as accurate as possible. They included cultural experts to guarantee that the Hawaiian language and traditions were properly portrayed.

The episode was recorded in breathtaking places, including New Zealand's Bay of Islands and Hawaii's Kalapana lava fields. These sites contributed to the vivid depiction of 18th-century Hawaii.

Chief of War mainly combines history, culture, and drama to produce a compelling narrative about devotion, war, and identity and the entire story chronicles Kaʻiana's voyage and struggle to unify the Hawaiian Islands.

Chief of War is anticipated to be one of Apple TV+'s most notable original programs. This is mainly because of Momoa's intense commitment and enthusiasm for the project. A new and significant narrative about Hawaiian history and culture is something that both new viewers and Momoa fans can anticipate.

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