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Mikhail Gorbachev
| Chief of War | |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by |
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| Starring |
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| Composers | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original languages | Hawaiian English |
| Production | |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
Chief of War is an upcoming American historical drama miniseries created by Thomas Paʻa Sibbett and Jason Momoa for Apple TV+. Momoa also stars and executive produces the series, which consists of nine episodes. The series will premiere on August 1, 2025.
Premise
The story begins at the turn of the 19th century when the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were in a state of war. The series follows Kaʻiana, a Native Hawaiian (Hawaiian: kānaka ʻōiwi or maoli) warrior and aliʻi (noble) who travels outside of the islands. He returns home and joins a bloody campaign until, at the last minute, he rebels against the unification of Hawaiʻi that took place from 1782 to 1810 under Kamehameha I.[citation needed] Kaʻiana, was called a "Prince of Kauaʻi and the "most famous Hawaiʻian in the world".[citation needed]
Cast
- Jason Momoa as Kaʻiana[1]
- Te Ao o Hinepehinga as young Kaʻiana
- Temuera Morrison as Chief Kahekili[1]
- Luciane Buchanan as Kaʻahumanu
- Kaina Makua as Kamehameha I[1]
- Moses Goods as Moku
- Siua Ikaleʻo as Nahiʻ
- Brandon Finn as Prince Kūpule
- James Udom as Tony
- Mainei Kinimaka as Heke
- Te Kohe Tuhaka as Namakeʻ
- Siaosi Fonua as Maui
- Cliff Curtis as Keōua
- Erroll Shand as Captain John Meares
Episodes
| No. | Title [2] | Directed by | Written by [2] | Original release date [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Chief of War" | Justin Chon[4] | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa | August 1, 2025 |
| 2 | "Changing Tides" | Justin Chon[4] | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | August 1, 2025 |
| 3 | "City of Flowers" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | August 8, 2025 |
| 4 | "Ciudad De Flores, Part II" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | August 15, 2025 |
| 5 | "The Race of the Gods" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | August 22, 2025 |
| 6 | "The Splintered Paddle" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | August 29, 2025 |
| 7 | "Day of Spilled Brains" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | September 5, 2025 |
| 8 | "The Sacred Niu Grove" | TBA | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung | September 12, 2025 |
| 9 | "The Black Desert" | Jason Momoa[5] | Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa | September 19, 2025 |
Production
According to Thomas Paʻa Sibbet, he and Jason Momoa came up with the idea in 2015.[1] It was announced in April 2022 that Apple TV+ had ordered the eight episode miniseries, with Momoa set to star in and executive produce.[6] Justin Chon was set to direct two episodes of the series that same month.[4] Momoa and Sibbett co-wrote all episodes, with assistance on Hawaiian language dialogue provided by staff of Awaiaulu, an archiving and translation company based in Honolulu. Cultural advisors were appointed in every production department to achieve as high authenticity as possible, even as far as building war vessels (waʻa) from scratch using real local materials and historical techniques.[1]
Casting announcements in October and November revealed that Temuera Morrison, Luciane Buchanan, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikaleʻo, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka and Te Hoke Tuhaka had joined the cast.[7][8][9] Cliff Curtis would join in a recurring role in February 2023.[10]
Filming for the series began by October 2022 in New Zealand, with Bay of Islands being used to stand in for 18th century Hawaiʻi.[11] Major battle scenes were filmed in December in the lava fields of Kalapana.[12]
Release
The series will debut with its first two episodes on August 1, 2025, with new episodes dropping weekly thereafter through September 19, 2025.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Mancini, Vince (April 16, 2025). "Is 'Chief of War' the Next 'Game of Thrones'? Inside Jason Momoa's Polynesian Passion Project". GQ. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "Chief of War". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Otterson, Joe (March 31, 2025). "Jason Momoa Series 'Chief of War' Sets Release Date at Apple TV+". Variety. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
- ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (April 14, 2022). "Jason Momoa Apple Series 'Chief of War' Sets 'Pachinko's' Justin Chon to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "Apple TV+ unveils first look at star, executive producer and writer Jason Momoa in the epic new drama "Chief of War," premiering globally Friday, August 1, 2025". Apple TV+ Press. March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 4, 2022). "Jason Momoa To Headline Chief Of War Limited Series For Apple TV+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (October 19, 2022). "Temuera Morrison Joins Jason Momoa In Chief Of War Limited Series At Apple TV+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (November 16, 2022). "Jason Momoa Apple Series Chief of War Casts Luciane Buchanan (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Petski, Denise (November 17, 2022). "Jason Momoa Apple Series 'Chief Of War' Adds Eight To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 3, 2023). "Cliff Curtis Joins Jason Momoa's Apple Series Chief Of War As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ de Graaf, Peter (October 3, 2022). "Rāwhiti abuzz as Aquaman star Jason Momoa welcomed to Bay of Islands". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Lum, Stephanie (December 15, 2022). "Jason Momoa wraps filming in Hawaii for new series". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
External links
- Chief of War at IMDb