Forget tridents and underwater kingdoms—Jason Momoa is back, and this time he’s trading the mythic for the historic. Chief of War, his long-anticipated passion project, hits Apple TV+ on August 1, and the teaser alone is enough to make you want to grab a war club and start chanting under a volcano.
The series, co-created and co-written by Momoa himself, dives into the 18th-century unification of the Hawaiian Islands. But this isn’t your typical historical drama. It’s intimate, reverent, and dripping in soul. With nine episodes and a dream team of Indigenous creatives behind the scenes, Chief of War is set to rewrite not only Hawaiian history—but TV history too.
Ka‘iana’s Story Unfolds
At the centre of this sweeping saga is Ka‘iana, played by Momoa—a Native Hawaiian caught in the storm of colonialism. The teaser reveals him as both monk and monster: a man torn between peace and the fight for sovereignty. The stakes? Nothing less than his people’s future.
Chief of War charts Ka‘iana’s transformation—from a man of diplomacy to a symbol of resistance. It’s a spiritual journey as much as a political one, exploring identity, land, and the bittersweet path toward unification.
The Powerhouse Creative Team
Let’s talk pedigree. This isn’t Momoa’s vanity project—it’s a carefully assembled tapestry of top-tier talent and cultural authenticity:
Created by: Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett
Showrunner: Doug Jung (Mindhunter, Star Trek Beyond)
Directors: Justin Chon (Blue Bayou) helms the opening, Momoa takes the finale
Music: Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, teaming up with James Everingham
Cast: Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, and a nearly all-Polynesian lineup
This cast isn’t just diverse—it’s intentional. And the result is a show that doesn’t “represent” culture; it lives in it.
What the Teaser Reveals
The teaser trailer opens like a painting come to life—lush Hawaiian mountains, waves crashing against ancestral shores, and that haunting whisper of prophecy. The air is thick with anticipation.
Then there’s Momoa. Drenched in sacred ink and war paint, stepping out of the shadows like a living myth. In seconds, we understand: this isn’t just a man. This is a moment.
The tension builds as Western sails appear on the horizon—tall, white, and silent. There’s no dialogue needed; the threat is clear. The trailer spirals into training montages, ceremonial chants, and bone-crunching battles. And then—cut to a burning coastline, Ka‘iana silhouetted on a cliff, eyes defiant.
“Not today,” he says. Chills.
A Role Twenty Years in the Making
“This is everything I have,” Momoa has said of the project. And it shows.
If you thought Aquaman was Momoa’s peak, think again. Chief of War might just be his most compelling role yet—not because of its scope, but because of its soul.
Ka‘iana is layered—haunted by prophecy, driven by loyalty, and torn by duty. There are shades of Khal Drogo, Baba Voss, even Arthur Curry—but this time, Momoa is writing the myth himself.
He doesn’t just star—he co-wrote, executive produced, and directs the season finale. This is Momoa going full auteur. And it’s glorious.
Cinematography & Score
Visually, Chief of War is stunning. Think Terrence Malick meets Game of Thrones—with fire-lit ceremonies, jungle warfare, and sweeping drone shots over emerald cliffs.
Director of Photography opts for natural light wherever possible, letting golden hour cast halos over chiefs and warriors. Rainy battle scenes are intimate and chaotic—like The Revenant, but with even more soul.
And the music? Hans Zimmer and James Everingham have cooked up something extraordinary: Polynesian drums, conch shell blasts, native chants layered over thunderous orchestral waves. It’s Dune-level cinematic, with Moana’s ancestral heart.
Culture at the Core
Here’s the real triumph: authenticity. This is not a “Hawaiian-themed” show. It’s a Hawaiian story told by Hawaiian voices.
The dialogue flows between English and ʻōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language), subtitles included. Traditional tattoos, garb, rituals, even the weapon choreography—every detail is rooted in real cultural practice.
And for a global audience, Chief of War becomes a cultural masterclass. Not by preaching, but by immersing. The show doesn’t explain tradition—it invites you to experience it.
Action That Hits Different
Don’t worry—if you’re tuning in for the battles, you won’t be disappointed.
There’s an island alliance montage that will have you howling, followed by a mid-season naval clash with fire arrows and ocean swells. And in a goosebumps-inducing underwater fight, Momoa spears through colonial chaos like a ghost from the deep.
Yet the most powerful scenes aren’t always loud. A late-episode vision quest—foggy, dreamlike, and ancestral—will leave even the toughest viewers misty-eyed.
Why Chief of War Matters
At a time when streaming is oversaturated with reboots and CGI noise, Chief of War feels like a revelation. It’s a bold, heartfelt swing from a Hollywood A-lister who’s using his power to tell the stories that shaped him.
“Before colonization, there were stories—fierce, beautiful, and worth fighting for.”
That line, tucked into the series promo, says it all.
Mark Your Calendars
Premiere: August 1, 2025 (first two episodes)
Episodes: Released weekly through September 19
Platform: Apple TV+
Jason Momoa’s Magnum Opus?
In short: Chief of War is more than a show. It’s a statement.
It’s Jason Momoa at his most powerful—not because he’s swinging an axe, but because he’s holding a mirror to history. It’s part epic, part love letter, and all heart. If the full series lives up to the teaser, this could be the defining Indigenous drama of our time.
Bring it on.
