Latest news with #TheLastoftheMohicans
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Momoa says 'Aquaman' was 'the biggest gamble of my life.' He cashed in those chips to make 'Chief of War.'
Wearing a malo for nine episodes was no problem for the Hawaiian actor. "I am not a big fan of wearing clothes," he tells Yahoo with a laugh. 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.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Big Bear Film Festival to Launch in September, Led by Former Outfest Director Damien Navarro
The Big Bear Film Festival — formerly known as the Green Jack International Film Festival — is launching September 24-29, the brainchild of the newly inaugurated Big Bear Film Institute. The famed California mountaintop destination, which has been seen in numerous films and television shows dating back a century, will host what the BBFI is calling a 'boundary breaking celebration' that encompasses not just film, but animation, podcasting, gaming, stand-up comedy, Indigenous storytelling, experimental sound design, and AI. CEO Damien S. Navarro, who previously served as the executive director of Outfest, noted that over 400 titles have used Big Bear as a backdrop, including 'Magnolia,' 'The Last of the Mohicans,' 'Creep,' 'Gone with the Wind,' and 'Old Yeller.' More from IndieWire 'Materialists' Review: Celine Song Didn't Make a Rom-Com, She Made a (Pretty Good) Takedown of Them 'Apocalypse in the Tropics' to Open DOC NYC Selects Summer Series - See the Full List 'Its alpine terrain has doubled for the Rockies, Appalachians, and even European forests —making it one of the most versatile and under-celebrated locations in film history,' Navarro said. Festival features include a 'Peak Pitch' marketplace for original projects to connect with potential buyers, a 'Music Village & Audio Pavillion' lakeside retreat, an expo for gaming and animation content, an outdoor and drone cinematography showcase, and plans for a future 5-day 'Alpine Story Lab' residency. 'The Big Bear Film Festival is unapologetically built for the next generation of storytelling,' Navarro told IndieWire. 'Attendees can expect an eclectic mix: elevated genre films, climate-forward documentaries, Indigenous and Latinx voices, immersive experiences, gaming [and] animation showcases, audio storytelling, and outdoor/adventure films. We're especially excited about spotlighting IP across mediums — from podcasts to graphic novels to AI-created narratives.' Navarro added that BBFI wasn't just launching a festival; 'we're launching a movement.' 'Backed by the newly formed Big Bear Film Institute and Film Office, this is a year-round ecosystem for creators and culture-shifters,' he explained. 'With partners like Utopia, we're planting a flag for what a future-forward, community-rooted film culture can look like. Think Sundance-meets-SXSW with boots, brains, and a view.' BBFI's partner Utopia was founded by Robert Schwartzman in 2018. 'Our mission at Utopia has not only been to support how independent films reach audiences through direct acquisitions and full distribution support, but to provide filmmakers with alternative, empowering self-distribution tools and to challenge our industry by providing additional meaningful, viable outlets for monetization,' Schwartzman said in a press release. 'Partnering with the Big Bear Film Institute and Festival allows us to do exactly that — giving a range of creators and distributors a meaningful new environment to engage and launch their work within an energized and thoughtful community.' For information, sponsorships, and submissions, visit the festival's website. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Tom Cruise's best movie' is now available to stream on Netflix
Tom Cruise has starred in a number of blockbuster movies over the years, but there's one film in particular that fans believe is his best - and it's currently available to watch on Netflix. The Mission Impossible series welcomed its latest release this month, thrilling fans worldwide as Tom Cruise reprised his iconic role as Ethan Hunt. Yet, the 62-year-old is grabbing attention for a different performance on Netflix, portraying a hard-hitting role in the action-packed thriller Collateral. The 2004 film Collateral boasts an incredible cast including Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Debi Mazar and Bruce McGill. In the film, Jamie Foxx portrays a cab driver who's day takes a wild turn when he picks up a hitman, played by Tom Cruise. Collateral offers viewers an adrenaline rush, with a synopsis reading: "A cab driver realizes his current fare is a hit man who has been having him drive around from mark to mark until the last witness to a crime is dead. "When the cabbie finally figures out the truth, he must prevent the assassin from wiping out his last witness without becoming the next in the professional killer's line of casualties." Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann, known for masterpieces like Heat, The Last of the Mohicans and Ferrari, Collateral was a box office success, racking up $220 million off a $65 million budget, reports Surrey Live. The film has been highly praised online, with many hailing it as one of the actor's finest performances. One viewer penned: "I would say it's one of best Tom Cruise movies 'Collateral'." Another chimed in: "Collateral is my all time favorite Cruise movie outside the MI franchise. I love his works in 2000s era." A third shared on Rottentomatoes: "An absolute masterpiece." With another adding: "It's perfect. Cast. Story. Cinematography. Soundtrack. Direction. Acting. Climactic ending. The entire package." Another fan commented: "One of the most intense action thrillers ever. Amazing duo of Tom and Jamie Fox. It's so good to see Tom playing the villain." With someone else noting: "Great film, Tom Cruise is surprisingly good as a villain." Echoing these sentiments, with one enthusiast added: "Fantastic, dark action thriller with a really great story, all the performances are top-notch and Tom does a fantastic turn as Vincent. Its rare to find a film with this much character growth packing in with action and suspense." Collateral is available to stream on Netflix now.
