I’ve literally been sitting on my hands for several years to do an MCM on Jason Momoa — just needed this hottie to do a few more historical things so I could justify it! Well now that he’s starred in/co-created/produced the EXCELLENT 18th-century Hawaiian epic Chief of War, I think it’s time to enjoy! Okay, so I’m going to include some fantasy productions in here — gotta pad.
Conan in Conan the Barbarian (2011)
A “new interpretation” of the fantasy sword and sorcery barbarian character. But hey, “barbarian” = ye oldey timey right?
Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones (2011-12)
Another fantasy story! The famed TV show has lots of historical references but it’s in a made-up world. Sometimes we die on principle and refuse to include it, but since it’s the show that made us all fall in love, I’m including it! Momoa plays a “barbarian”-type warlord.
Jean Lafitte / Jim Thorpe in Drunk History (2013-19)
Momoa has been in two episode of Drunk History, first playing French pirate/privateer/slave trader Jean Lafitte (c. 1780-c. 1823); then athlete Jim Thorpe (1887-1953), the first Native American to win a gold medal for the US in the Olympics (Momoa is of mixed white, Hawaiian, and Pawnee heritage).
Declan Harp in Frontier (2016-18)
A truly terribly costumed attempt to depict the world of late-18th-century fur traders.
Big Jim in The Last Manhunt (2022)
An early-20th-century-set Western about a Native American couple fleeing a posse. I think Momoa’s character is one of the chasers.
Ka’iana in Chief of War (2025)
Momoa plays real-life 18th-century Hawaiian warrior chief Ka’iana in this TV series about the unification of Hawaii (1782-1810). It’s not just an entertaining show, but it has deeply researched indigenous costumes!
Which is your favorite of Jason Momoa’s historical or historically-inspired roles?
Chief of War is amazingly researched and respectful. But super violent – needs ALL the trigger warnings for ALL the things!!
I must be getting immune, I didn’t think the violence was THAT bad! I just watched American Primeval and nearly jumped off my couch at some of the violence in that.
I look forward to the day when he and Mr Jason Statham finally team up for some cinematic mayhem.
Also, dear me but he DOES look rakish in that buccaneer costume: it would be fun to see him do something a bit more dandyish than usual (I suspect he’d enjoy the chance to play someone Fancy).
Not a FF by any stretch of the imagination, but I enjoyed Momoa cosplaying as a 1990s pro wrestler in the Minecraft movie. He looked like he was having a blast.
For some more Polynesian content (specifically Maori content), take a look at Temuera Morrison’s filmography. He has used his Star Wars clout to bring attention to Maori filmmakers in New Zealand, including a few historical films such as River Queen and Mahana.
Polynesians and Maori produce remarkably handsome men
The original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard were indeed set on our Earth, in a supposed mythic time before recorded history (with the continents supposedly having shifted a bit, so for example Conan’s homeland of Cimmeria was supposedly where the British Isles are now. (From the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie: “Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this: Conan!”)
TL;DR – Conan can definitely be counted as “historical if you squint a bit” (and by the same token, so can JRR Tolkien’s works, which similarly are supposed to be set “before recorded history”).
Interesting! I didn’t know that about LOTR!
He’ll always be Ronon Dex to me.