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Jason Momoa’s Chief of War: Everything you need to know About the epic Historical Drama
Chief of War recently dropped its first official teaser—and it's nothing short of breathtaking. From thunderous battle cries to sweeping shots of ancient Hawaiian landscapes, the teaser hints at an epic saga that’s raw, emotional, and visually stunning. With just a few haunting glimpses, the teaser has already ignited a wildfire of anticipation across social media.
While Jason Momoa has taken on many intense roles before, Chief of War is different—he calls it his “Braveheart,” a decade-long dream finally realized. The project breaks new ground not just with its scale, but with its perspective: a story deeply personal and rooted in cultural truth. Audiences have seen historical dramas before, but never one that explores this side of the Pacific with such passion and authenticity.
So what’s really going on behind the battle chants and volcanic fury? We've gathered everything you need to know: cast, characters, exclusive insights, and more details straight from the creators. And trust us—there’s much more to uncover as we continue to track every update leading up to the show’s big debut. Keep checking back—we’re updating this guide as fresh news erupts.
Release date & Where to Watch
Chief of War is set to premiere globally on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, with the first two episodes dropping together on Apple TV+. After that, new episodes will be released weekly every Friday, leading up to the finale on Sept. 19, 2025. The epic series will span a total of nine episodes.
What is the plot of Chief of War?
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of late 18th-century Hawaiʻi, Chief of War follows Kaʻiana, a Native Hawaiian warrior and aliʻi (noble), portrayed by Jason Momoa, as he navigates a critical turning point in the islands' history.
The nine-episode historical drama unfolds between 1782 and 1810, a time when the Hawaiian Islands were embroiled in intense internal conflict and increasingly threatened by foreign colonization. As the islands edge toward unification under Kamehameha I, Kaʻiana returns from travels beyond Hawaiʻi armed with knowledge of the outside world and the mounting dangers it brings.
Told entirely from an Indigenous perspective, the story explores Kaʻiana's transformation from an ambitious warrior to a man caught between prophecy, loyalty, and betrayal. Initially joining the fight to unite the islands, he ultimately rebels against Kamehameha I, adding moral complexity and personal conflict to the larger narrative of unification.
His character—once called “the most famous Hawaiʻian in the world” and a Prince of Kauaʻi—offers a lens into the personal costs of war and change. As Variety describes, Chief of War is a powerful drama that "follows the story of the unification and colonization of Hawaii," shining a light on a time and perspective rarely depicted on screen.
Who’s in the cast of Chief of War?
- Jason Momoa as Kaʻiana
- Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) as Chief Kahekili
- Brandon Finn (Three Women) as Prince Kūpule
- Cliff Curtis as Keōua
- Kaina Makua as Kamehameha I
- Erroll Shand as Capt. John Meares
- Siaosi Fonua as Maui
- Moses Goods (NCIS: Hawai'i) as Moku
- Te Ao o Hinepehinga (Breakwater) as Kupuohi
- Te Kohe Tuhaka (The Convert) as Namakeʻ
- James Udom (The Sandman) as Tony
- Mainei Kinimaka (See) as Heke
- Siua Ikaleʻo as Nahiʻ
- Luciane Buchanan as Kaʻahuman
- Benjamin Hoetjes as John Young
Is There a Trailer for Chief of War?
The teaser opens with a haunting whisper: “You will see the Prophecy fulfilled, Ka‘iana,” setting an immediate tone of destiny and tension. In one striking moment, Ka‘iana is asked, “Are you still the chief that desires peace over war?” and he responds with conviction, “Not today,” marking the point of no return.
Visually, the teaser delivers sweeping Hawaiian vistas, from lush mountain ridges to stormy coastlines, then shifts into intense action with beachfront battles and even shark wrangling—Momoa literally wrestling a shark—a dramatic indicator of the series’ primal energy. The camera also captures ceremonial chants, tribal rituals, warrior training, and dramatic slow‑motion runs across the landscape, evoking both beauty and imminent conflict.
These teaser moments immerse viewers into a culturally rich yet war‑torn Hawaiian past, framing Chief of War as more than a story—it’s a vivid, visceral awakening and a defiant stand.
Before he became a king, he lived as a farmer. This King Kamehameha Day, get to know the actor who’s bringing his legendary story to life.
Episode Titles
- Season 1 Episode 1: The Chief of War (Friday, Aug. 1, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 2: Changing Tides (Friday, Aug. 1, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 3: City of Flowers (Friday, Aug. 8, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 4: Ciudad De Flores, Part II (Friday, Aug. 15, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 5: The Race of the Gods (Friday, Aug. 22, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 6: The Splintered Paddle (Friday, Aug. 29, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 7: Day of Spilled Brains (Friday, Sept. 5, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 8: The Sacred Niu Grove (Friday, Sept. 12, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 9: The Black Desert (Friday, Sept. 19, 2025)
Filming Details
Filming for Chief of War kicked off in October 2022 in New Zealand, with the Bay of Islands doubling as 18th-century Hawaiʻi (via NZ Herald). By December, production moved to the dramatic lava fields of Kalapana, where major battle scenes were brought to life against the island’s rugged backdrop (via Hawaii News Now).
Behind the Scenes
Chief of War is a passion project long in the making, co-created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett, who first conceived the idea over a decade ago. As Sibbett recently told GQ, “Jason and I, we actually had this idea a good 10 years ago.” Now, after years of buildup and career milestones, Momoa finally brings their vision to life—starring in, writing, and executive producing the series.
In the same GQ interview, Momoa described the show as deeply personal, saying, “This is my Braveheart, this is my Last of the Mohicans—when I was a little kid, I looked at all these Native American movies and I love samurai movies and I love all these cultures, and so this is it for us. This is our chance. And so it's taken us a long time, but I needed to wait until my career was in the right moment, and I needed to wait until we saved cinema with Minecraft to come back and just fucking kill it, bro! You know?”
The series is helmed by Doug Jung, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. Also executive producing are Francis Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Tracey Cook, Brian Andrew Mendoza, Sibbett, and Justin Chon, who directs the first two episodes. Momoa himself directs the finale.
Produced by FIFTH SEASON and Chernin Entertainment, Chief of War features original music by Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who wrote the theme and co-produced the score for all nine episodes alongside James Everingham. Their work was crafted during Zimmer's time with Bleeding Fingers Music, the Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer collective he co-founded in 2013.
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