Jason Momoa Battles for a Nation in Apple TV+’s ‘Chief of War’ Watch the Trailer

Jason Momoa trades underwater kingdoms for volcanic battlegrounds in Apple TV+’s historical series Chief of War, a sprawling retelling of Hawaii’s 18th-century fight against Western incursion. Known for action-heavy roles, Momoa now steps into more personal territory as Ka‘iana, a legendary warrior torn between tribal loyalties and an encroaching foreign threat.

The nine-episode series, crafted by Momoa and longtime collaborator Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, plunges viewers into the chaos and courage of a people facing erasure. It’s an Indigenous story, told from the inside out, with a near-entirely Polynesian cast anchoring the action. “This is your home,” Ka‘iana says in the trailer, standing firm in the soil he’s sworn to protect. “This land will hold you long after I’m gone… this is your home.”

Set against Hawaii’s lush, lethal landscape, Chief of War follows Ka‘iana’s efforts to rally fractured island factions before colonization takes hold. He’s joined by Ka’ahumanu, played by Luciane Buchanan, who calls him “the fist of our people” as they prepare for what seems like inevitable bloodshed. Temuera Morrison appears as King Kahekili, a key figure in the struggle for unity and survival.

If the trailer is any indication, this series doesn’t flinch. Battles unfold on land and sea with brutal realism, backed by a sweeping score from James Everingham and Hans Zimmer. Justin Chon directs the opening episodes, while Momoa himself helms the finale. Doug Jung serves as showrunner, with a powerhouse production team including Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Brian Andrew Mendoza.

Speaking to Apple TV+, Momoa made no secret of the personal stakes: the project is a tribute to his ancestry, an attempt to bring forward the voices of those long silenced by history books. The stakes aren’t just narrative, they’re cultural.

Chief of War debuts August 1 on Apple TV+ with two episodes, followed by weekly releases through September 19.

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