Jason Momoa’s Most Personal Project Yet: What to Expect from 'Chief of War'

Jason Momoa is heading back into battle — but this time, it's not in Westeros or Atlantis. In Chief of War, a sweeping nine-part historical drama for Apple TV+, the actor swaps tridents for tribal politics, stepping into the role of Kaʻiana, a Hawaiian warrior caught in the fight to unite the islands in the late 18th century. And he’s not just starring — Momoa co-wrote the series, executive produces, and even directs the finale.

The series premieres globally on August 1, 2025, launching with two episodes, followed by weekly releases every Friday.

Shot largely on location in New Zealand, with extensive attention to indigenous detail and Hawaiian language use, Chief of War positions itself as more than just a costume epic — it’s an effort to tell the story of Hawaiʻi through a native lens. The comparison to Game of Thrones is tempting, but this saga doesn’t deal in dragons — it deals in colonisers, shifting alliances, and the cost of unification.

So far, it’s a limited series — just one season of nine episodes — but considering the scope of history and the scale of the production, who’s to say whether more will follow? With a supporting cast of Polynesian and Māori actors and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, the show blends cinematic ambition with cultural authenticity. For now, all signs point to Chief of War being one of Apple TV+’s boldest offerings yet.