Jason Momoa is back in the fray—this time for a passion project years in the making. The “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman” stars team up with Thomas Pa’a Sibbett for Apple’s “War Chief,” based on true events in 18th-century Hawai’i, for an ambitious nine-episode series unlike anything else on television.
The series follows warrior Ka’iana (Momoa), a celebrated fighter from Puna, Hawaii, who seeks to unite the tribes and islands against Western colonizers. At his side is Ka’ahumanu (“Night Agent” star Luciane Buchanon), who calls Ka’iana “the fist of our people,” the face of our people. As he prepares his community for conflict, he must defend King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison) as the leader of the island, fight for their lives, and protect as many people as possible. The trailer shows clashes on land and sea, with hundreds of background actors and hand-to-hand combat that showcases Momoa’s physicality on screen.
“This is your home,” Ka’iana declares in the trailer. “This land will hold you long after I’m gone… this is your home.”
“Chief of War” tackles its true story from the often-ignored Indigenous perspective, with a predominantly Polynesian cast that includes 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. Doug Jung serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Sibbett, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Tracey Cook, and Brian Andrew Mendoza. The first two episodes are directed by executive producer Justin Chon, and Momoa will direct the ninth and final episode of the season.
Anders Engström, Jim Rowe, Molly Allen, Francis Lawrence, and Tim Van Patten also serve as executive producers, and the musical score is co-produced by James Everingham and Hans Zimmer, who wrote the show’s theme song. This is the second collaboration between Momoa and Sibbett, who worked together on 2023’s “Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom,” and the second major project between Momoa and Apple after the three-season dystopian series “See.”
“Chief of War” premieres with two episodes on August 1st on Apple TV+, with new episodes airing weekly. Watch the trailer below.
