Latest news with #ChiefofWar
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jason Momoa's teen children support him in rare outing at 'Chief of War' premiere: Photos
Jason Momoa celebrated his latest project with some of his favorite people. On July 18, the 45-year-old actor attended the premiere of his upcoming historical drama miniseries, "Chief of War," with his son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, 16; daughter Lola Iolani Momoa, 17; and girlfriend, "Blink Twice" actor Adria Arjona. Momoa and his children, whom he shares with ex-wife and "The Cosby Show" star Lisa Bonet, wore matching capes at the event. The black, yellow and red outerwear was styled similarly to the wardrobe he wore in "Chief of War" as an 18th-century Hawaiian warrior-chief who defected from King Kamehameha's forces as they sought to conquer the Hawaiian islands. The "Aquaman" star, who was born in Honolulu and raised in Iowa, plays the lead role of warrior Ka'iana. He also served as a director, writer and executive producer for the nine-episode series, which premieres its first two episodes Aug. 1 on Apple TV+. The red carpet premiere took place at Ko Olina Beach Park in Honolulu's neighboring Kapolei. Jason Momoa, Adria Arjona step out together at 'Chief of War' premiere Momoa also walked the carpet with 33-year-old "Hit Man" star Arjona, with whom he soft-launched a relationship in May 2024. Arjona is the daughter of Ricardo Arjona, one of the best-selling Latin American artists of all time whose hits include "Fuiste Tú" and "Historia De Taxi." The two have been each other's red carpet companions as of late, having also attended the "Highest 2 Lowest" premiere together at the Cannes Film Festival in May. What is Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' about? According to Apple TV+, "Told from an indigenous perspective, 'Chief of War' is a passion project for creators Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, who share native Hawaiian heritage." The series features "a predominantly Polynesian cast" and depicts "the unification and colonization of Hawai'i at the turn of the 18th century," 100 years before a group of mostly American businessmen overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy, paving the way for it to be annexed by the United States. Jason Momoa's son, Nakoa-Wolf, 'doesn't fall far from the tree' Ahead of the "Chief of War" premiere, Momoa performed at the 2025 Harley-Davidson Homecoming festival in Milwaukee as a part of his band, ÖOF TATATÁ. For the band's climactic performance of Metallica's "For Whom The Bell Tolls," his 16-year-old son made a cameo. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Momoa said. Nakoa-Wolf is also joining his dad in the upcoming "Dune: Part Three." "He's in for a rude awakening is what he's in for," Momoa told Extra TV. 'He's into the workforce for the first time. It's going to be good. He did it on his own. I don't want to help him, and he's done it all on his own, and good for him." "I couldn't do what he's doing at his age. There's no way I could sit in a room with (director) Denis Villeneuve and hold my own. I was on 'Baywatch' at 19. He's 16 and holding" his own with Villeneuve, Momoa added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jason Momoa on son Nakoa-Wolf's Dune 3 debut: 'He's going to be way better than I've ever been'
Actor Jason Momoa is beaming with pride as his 16-year-old son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa prepares to make his acting debut in 'Dune 3,' the final installment of Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi trilogy. Speaking at the premiere of his OTT series 'Chief of War,' Momoa shared that while he initially resisted the idea of his son entering the industry, he now believes Nakoa-Wolf will surpass him. Jason Momoa says his son did it on his own According to a report in Entertainment Tonight, Jason Momoa shared that his son expressed interest in acting, but he initially discouraged him, telling him he couldn't act and wouldn't be part of the industry. However, his son pursued it on his own and proved his dedication. Momoa admitted that his son is already showing signs of being a better actor than him and added that, like him, the boy is loud—something they have in common. He expressed pride in seeing his child follow his passion and push forward independently. Momoa's comments reflect a mix of disbelief, admiration, and emotional acceptance of his son's decision to follow in his footsteps. The actor also joked about shooing his son away during red carpet interviews. Nakoa-Wolf reportedly cast as Leto II Atreides While the studio has yet to officially confirm the role, multiple sources suggest Nakoa-Wolf will play Leto II, the son of Paul Atreides played by Timothée Chalamet and Chani played by Zendaya, in 'Dune: Messiah.' His twin sister Ghanima will reportedly be portrayed by Ida Brooke, marking a generational shift in the franchise's narrative arc. A legacy passed on through the sands of Arrakis Momoa previously played Duncan Idaho, the loyal swordmaster to 'House Atreides,' in Dune of the year 2021. Though his character met a tragic end, Duncan remains a fan favorite. In Dune 3, Momoa returns as the character Hayt, which is a clone of Duncan Idaho, as it is reintroduced to Paul Atreides as part of the Messiah storyline. The father-son casting adds another meaningful layer to the franchise, which symbolized continuity at a generational level and emotional depth. As Denis Villeneuve adapts 'Dune: Messiah,' the emergence of new characters like Leto II and Ghanima signals a shift toward legacy, prophecy, and transformation.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Chief of War: Jason Momoa on moving ‘home' to New Zealand and All Blacks' surprise cameos
'Here's the big thing I want New Zealand to know - they should take a deep, deep amount of pride in this because we would not be able to make this show had it not been for the help of Aotearoa - they need to know that. I'm very thankful. 'They bled for us and we united Polynesia,' says the Hawaiian-born actor. Momoa extends his gratitude to some unexpected legendary New Zealanders who flexed their acting chops for the first time, just for their 'brother' Momoa. Eagle-eyed fans may have already spotted rugby players including Piri Weepu, Renee Ranger, Frank Bunce, Troy Flavell, Kees Meeuws and Pita Alatini featuring as Koa, Polynesian warriors, in the trailer for the series. Piri Weepu, Rene Ranger, Frank Bunce, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Troy Flavell and Pita Alatini all feature in the new Chief of War series. Photo / Apple TV+ Hesitant to spoil the plot of episode one, I tread carefully with questioning, before Momoa excitedly cuts in. 'No, let's say it, let's just say it - I'm a huge All Black fan. I love them. I tried to get Tana Umaga in there, but Kees Meeuws is one of my favourites of all time. So I got Kees and a bunch of them came to help,' Momoa adds. All Black prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi, who Momoa calls 'one of my closet friends' and 'my younger brother', has a starring role in episode one, battling with Momoa's character Ka'iana, a legendary Hawaiian warrior. 'He was so good. He was so scared to do it. He would not want me to tell you that, but that he was,' Momoa says with a laugh, adding, 'I was so proud of him.' Momoa recalls a particularly funny moment on set between Tu'ungafasi and his stunt double Kim Fardy, who is Australian and the brother of ex-Wallabies player Scott Fardy. 'Kimmy would always talk s*** about the All Blacks. And so I let Ofa know, I was like, 'just give a little sting because he's an Aussie'.' 'And sure enough, Ofa gave a little f****** extra dude,' Momoa laughs, recalling a hearty onscreen tackle between the two. 'He's a f******* wall, it's crazy. He's so strong.' In Chief of War a Hawaiian war chief embarks on a mission to unite his people. Photo / Apple The nine-part series also reunited two Hollywood heavyweights and Aotearoa acting royalty. Temuera Morrison and Cliff Curtis, who starred in the 1994 film Once Were Warriors, play Kings Kahekili and Keōua in Chief of War. Momoa says learning from Curtis was one of the big blessings from his time on set. 'It was nice to actually sit down and learn from Cliff,' Momoa says, crediting the duo's performances as award-worthy. 'Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison can come and play the biggest kings and pull that s*** off and learn our language and play it better than I've ever played before - those guys should be up for Emmys.' Momoa praised the pair's commitment to learning the language and cultural immersion, revealing that he teased the role to Morrison during the 2017 filming of Aquaman, which they starred in together. 'I told Tem on Aquaman, 'I wrote you the greatest role. You're gonna play the greatest game -an amazing king. It's unbelievable,' and he replies, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah boy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, true boy',' says Momoa, giving an impeccable Morrison impression. 'You gotta get the facial expressions down when doing it,' he adds with a laugh. Temuera Morrison and Jason Momoa have a very special bond after starring as father and son in Aquaman. Photo / Instagram His love for New Zealand actors, people and rugby players is no secret, but what keeps him coming back to Aotearoa? 'I came here when I was about 20 years old,' Momoa explains, 'and when I landed there, Hawaii is home, but there's never been anywhere in the world where I've ever felt more connected. 'I can't really explain it, if it was my destiny, my ancestors...I don't know what it was, but the moment I stepped off that plane I felt it, and I've always been drawn to it.' Momoa says that on a month-and-a-half trip he took as a 20-year-old, he scaled the country from 'top to bottom' and ultimately decided it was where he wanted to end up. 'I just loved it, just being in the outdoors, man. Being down in Queenstown and experiencing that - snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing.' Cliff Curtis in Chief of War. Photo / Apple TV+ 'I just was like, 'I'm gonna live here.' I was going to spend the rest of my life here one day, and now having the opportunity to come down and film,' he explains, the passion for our country clear as he circles back to 'the greatest f******* rugby team of all time', and goes off script. 'I mean, listen, I'm in Hawaii right now and I'll just...' Momoa pauses, turning his camera on during the Zoom call to show me the Steinlager Pure beer he's drinking on the couch, raising it for New Zealand before turning his camera off again. 'That's Steinlager P right there.' . Momoa admits he still feels a call to relocate, saying eventually that's the plan. 'I will eventually move one day, that's where I'll live and work. I don't want to leave - I'm gonna keep coming down. I just love it.' But with his passion project about to be seen by the world, in two short weeks, Momoa, who also worked as a director, writer and producer on the series, says right now his focus is on the series and Hawaii. Temuera Morrison in Chief of war. Photo / Apple TV+ 'I don't have anything that I will ever do in this life that'll be bigger than this - this is my heart and soul. You live with it for a decade, and then you finally get it up, and you get to make all the choices, direct, act, learn the language that you've always wanted to learn, that you've never learned.' But it hasn't been easy: 'No one will ever understand the battles I went through for my culture'. 'This is as big as it gets, you know. This is the tip of the spear of everything. After this is just an actor paid to go do some s***. This is my heart and soul in here.' But before he polishes off the rest of the 'Steinlager P', Momoa says he wants Kiwi fans to know one more thing: 'I'll see you soon. Next year. Aotearoa, I'm coming home, baby.' Chief of War premieres on Apple TV+ on August 1. Jenni Mortimer is the NZ Herald's chief lifestyle and entertainment reporter. Jenni started at the Herald in 2017 and has previously worked as lifestyle, entertainment and travel editor.
Hype Malaysia
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Apple TV+ Unveils Trailer For New Historical Drama 'Chief Of War' Starring Jason Momoa
After teasing fans back in May, the first official trailer has finally been released. Recently, Apple TV+ has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming historical drama 'Chief of War', starring, written by and executive produced by Jason Momoa. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Hawaiian islands, the nine-episode series—based on true events—follows warrior Ka'iana, portrayed by Momoa, as he fights to unify the islands ahead of Western colonisation in the late 18th century. Chief of War will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes dropping on Friday, 1st August 2025, followed by new episodes every Friday through to 19th September. Told from an Indigenous perspective, Chief of War is a passion project for creators Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, who both share Native Hawaiian heritage. The series features a predominantly Polynesian cast, led by Momoa alongside Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, newcomer Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale'o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Te Kohe Tuhaka and Benjamin Hoetjes. The series is produced for Apple TV+ by FIFTH SEASON and Chernin Entertainment. Momoa directs the season finale and serves as executive producer, with Doug Jung acting as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Tracey Cook and Brian Andrew Mendoza. Justin Chon directs the first two episodes and also serves as executive producer. Other executive producers include Anders Engström, Jim Rowe, Molly Allen, Francis Lawrence and Tim Van Patten. The original score for the series was composed by Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who wrote the theme music and co-produced the score for all nine episodes alongside composer James Everingham. The score was created during Zimmer's tenure with Bleeding Fingers Music, the Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer collective he co-founded in 2013.
Tom's Guide
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Apple TV Plus drops thrilling new trailer for Jason Momoa's historical drama show — and it's giving serious 'Game of Thrones' vibes
Apple TV Plus' "Chief of War" has been on my radar for a little while now, and every clip I've seen from the show only has me wanting to watch it more. Clearly, I'm not alone on this particular hype train, either. The streaming service dropped a full trailer for Jason Momoa's new, based-on-true-events historical drama less than 24 hours ago, and it's already racked up over 2 million views on YouTube, at the time of writing. If you've seen the new footage already, you'll know why it's doing that well: it makes "Chief of War" look like an utterly captivating watch. If not, you can see it below: Within this 3-minute clip, we're invited to "witness the rise of the kingdom of Hawai'i," and on the strength of what's here, I am ready to heed the call. Throughout, we see brutal battles, stunning scenery and plenty of drama. We meet our ensemble, and hear their fears, and hear plenty of talk of war and the stakes are set. Momoa even flexes his Aquaman muscles a little, hitching a ride on a shark. The feeling I'm getting is that "Chief of War" is going to be a must-watch for fans of shows like "Game of Thrones" or "Shōgun." Having loved both shows myself, you can bet I'll be seated when this epic new tale hits the Apple streamer this summer. If you're not up to speed on the Apple TV Plus series yet, "Chief of War" is an epic new show about the unification and colonisation of Hawai'i, told from an indigenous perspective and based on true events. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Across nine episodes, "Chief of War" follows Native Hawaiian warrior and noble, Ka'iana (Momoa). Ka'iana sets out to unify the islands before Western colonisation at the turn of the 18th century. The cast is predominantly Polynesian; along with Momoa, "Chief of War" also features Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale'o, Brand Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Te Kohe Tuhaka, and Benjamin Hoetjes Apple bills it as a "passion project" series for co-creators Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, and it was written and exec-produced by Momoa, who also directs the series finale. Oh, and did I mention it features theme music written by the prolific film composer, Hans Zimmer? The series will receive a two-episode premiere on Friday, August 1, with new episodes dropping every week, through to the series finale on September 19. If you're looking for something to stream in the meantime, check out our guide to the best Apple TV Plus shows for plenty more streaming recommendations to help build out your watchlist.
