Chief of War
{{Short description|Upcoming American historical drama miniseries}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| name =
| image =
| genre = Historical drama
| creator = {{Plainlist|
- Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
- Jason Momoa
}}
| based_on =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Jason Momoa
- Temuera Morrison
- Luciane Buchanan
- Te Ao o Hinepehinga
- Kaina Makua
- Moses Goods
- Siua Ikale{{okina}}o
- Brandon Finn
- James Udom
- Mainei Kinimaka
- Te Kohe Tuhaka
}}
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Jason Momoa
- Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
- Francis Lawrence
- Peter Chernin
- Jenno Topping
- Erik Holmberg
- Doug Jung
}}
| producer =
| editor =
| cinematography =
| runtime =
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Pride of Gypsies
- Hard J Productions
- about:blank
- Fifth Season
- Chernin Entertainment
}}
| budget =
| network = Apple TV+
| first_aired =
| last_aired =
}}
Chief of War is an upcoming American historical drama miniseries created by Thomas Pa'a 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 18th century when the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were in a state of war. The series follows Kaʻiana, a Native Hawaiian (kānaka ʻōiwi/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 the unification of Hawaii took place from 1782 to 1810 under Kamehameha I.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Ka'iana, was called a "Prince of Kaua'i" and the "most famous Hawaiian in the world."{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Cast
- Jason Momoa as Kaʻiana
- Temuera Morrison as Chief Kahekili
- Luciane Buchanan as Kaʻahumanu
- Te Ao o Hinepehinga as Ka'iana
- Kaina Makua as Kamehameha I
- Moses Goods as Moku
- Siua Ikale{{okina}}o as Nahi{{okina}}
- Brandon Finn as Prince Kūpule
- James Udom as Tony
- Mainei Kinimaka as Heke
- Te Kohe Tuhaka as Namake{{okina}}
- Siaosi Fonua as Maui
- Cliff Curtis as Keōua
- Erroll Shand as Capt. John Meares
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#3A5B82 |overall= |title= |titleR= |director= |writer= |writerR={{Cite web |title=Chief of War |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1244583/chief-of-war/ |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=Writers Guild of America West}} |airdate= |airdateR= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = The Chief of War
|DirectedBy = Justin Chon
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|1}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Changing Tides
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|1}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = City of Flowers
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|8}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Ciudad De Flores, Part II
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|15}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = The Race of the Gods
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|22}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = The Splintered Paddle
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|8|29}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Day of Spilled Brains
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|9|5}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = The Sacred Niu Grove
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa and Doug Jung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|9|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = The Black Desert
|WrittenBy = Thomas Pa'a Sibbett & Jason Momoa
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|9|19}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3A5B82
}}
}}
Production
It was announced in April 2022 that Apple TV+ had ordered the eight episode miniseries, with Jason Momoa set to star in and executive produce.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Jason Momoa To Headline Chief Of War Limited Series For Apple TV+ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/jason-momoa-chief-of-war-limited-series-apple-tv-1234994460/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=19 October 2022 |date=April 4, 2022}} Justin Chon was set to direct two episodes of the series that same month.{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Jason Momoa Apple Series 'Chief of War' Sets 'Pachinko's' Justin Chon to Direct (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jason-momoa-apple-chief-of-war-justin-chon-1235232677/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=Variety}} Casting announcements in October and November revealed that Temuera Morrison, Luciane Buchanan, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale{{okina}}o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka and Te Hoke Tuhaka had joined the cast.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Temuera Morrison Joins Jason Momoa In Chief Of War Limited Series At Apple TV+ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/temuera-morrison-jason-momoa-chief-of-war-limited-series-apple-tv-1235149883/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=19 October 2022 |date=October 19, 2022}}{{cite magazine |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Jason Momoa Apple Series Chief of War Casts Luciane Buchanan (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jason-momoa-apple-series-chief-of-war-cast-luciane-buchanan-1235434890/ |magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=November 16, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Jason Momoa Apple Series 'Chief Of War' Adds Eight To Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/jason-momoa-apple-series-chief-of-war-cast-1235175349/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=November 17, 2022}} Cliff Curtis would join in a recurring role in February 2023.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Cliff Curtis Joins Jason Momoa's Apple Series Chief Of War As Recurring |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/cliff-curtis-jason-momoas-apple-series-chief-of-war-recurring-1235248508/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=3 February 2023 |date=February 3, 2023}}
Filming for the series began by October 2022 in New Zealand, with Bay of Islands being used to stand in for 18th century Hawaii.{{cite web |last1=de Graaf |first1=Peter |title=Rāwhiti abuzz as Aquaman star Jason Momoa welcomed to Bay of Islands |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/rawhiti-abuzz-as-aquaman-star-jason-momoa-welcomed-to-bay-of-islands/RQ5VBNAOWXTEBZSXPWOQNF6C4Y/ |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=19 October 2022 |date=October 3, 2022}} Major battle scenes were filmed in December in the lava fields of Kalapana, Hawaii.{{cite web |last1=Lum |first1=Stephanie |title=Jason Momoa wraps filming in Hawaii for new series |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/12/15/jason-momoa-wraps-filming-hawaii-new-series-chief-war/ |website=Hawaii News Now |access-date=28 March 2024 |date=December 15, 2022}}
Release
The series will debut with its first two episodes on August 1, 2025, with new episodes dropping weekly thereafter through September 19, 2025.{{cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|title=Jason Momoa Series ‘Chief of War’ Sets Release Date at Apple TV+|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jason-momoa-series-chief-of-war-release-date-apple-tv-1236351632/|website=Variety|access-date=March 31, 2025|date=March 31, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|19381692}}
{{Apple TV+}}
Category:2025 American television series debuts
Category:Apple TV+ original programming
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series set in the 18th century
Category:Television series by Chernin Entertainment
Category:Television shows filmed in New Zealand
Category:Television shows set in Hawaii