Kingdom of heroes

Jason Momoa stars as a legendary Hawaiian warrior in an 18th-century epic

- STEVEN PERKINS

Jason Momoa has earned a legion of fans on the big screen in recent years as the DC Comics superhero Aquaman, but in Apple TV+'s new historical drama Chief of War, he's playing a very different kind of hero.

Set in 18th-century Hawaii and based on true events, the nine-part series stars Momoa as legendary warrior Ka'iana, who attempted to unite the four kingdoms of O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and Hawai'i at a time when the islands were constantly at war with each other.

'Ka'iana was a Hawaiian warrior who risked everything for his land and his people,' says Momoa, who turns 46 on 1 August. 'He is fearless, a visionary, and his journey is full of action, drama and romance.'

'This is an amazing story about the unification of the Hawaiian islands, brought to life on a massive scale. It's mind-blowing to be able to tell this incredible story of my ancestors.'

Momoa co-created the series with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom writer Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, hoping they could create a Hawaiian equivalent of historical blockbusters like Braveheart or The Last of the Mohicans.