Jason Momoa’s ‘Chief of War’ Premieres Today on Apple TV+

Jason Momoa returns to television today with Chief of War, a sweeping historical drama now streaming on Apple TV+. The series marks a major shift from the fantasy and superhero worlds the actor is known for, centering instead on the 18th-century struggle for Hawaiian independence as Western forces edge closer to the islands.

Momoa plays Ka‘iana, a warrior navigating political divisions and growing external threats. Set during a volatile period of unification and resistance, the nine-episode series dramatizes Hawaii’s fractured tribes and the leaders who tried to protect their homeland from foreign domination. The production’s scale is matched by its ambition, aiming to tell an Indigenous story with authenticity and reverence.

Much of that commitment comes from behind the camera. Momoa co-created the show with Thomas Pa’a Sibbett and also directed the season finale. The premiere episodes are helmed by Justin Chon, known for Pachinko and Blue Bayou, adding further emotional weight to the show’s already intense visuals. Showrunner Doug Jung leads a team that includes producers Peter Chernin and Brian Andrew Mendoza.

The cast features Luciane Buchanan as Ka‘ahumanu, a political partner and force in her own right, alongside Temuera Morrison as the formidable King Kahekili. Nearly the entire cast is of Polynesian descent, aligning with the show’s efforts to present the story from an internal perspective.

Speaking to Apple TV+, Momoa described the project as deeply meaningful. “It’s a story I’ve wanted to tell for a long time,” he said. “It’s about where I come from, and what so many people don’t know about our history.”

Chief of War premieres with two episodes today, August 1, on Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly through September 19. Check out the trailer below.

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