From his devilish smile and delightful personality to his acting chops and on-screen power, Jason Momoa has taken Hollywood by storm. Today we explore more about the life and career of this charming celebrity.
Television Beginnings
With his chiseled physique, it’s no wonder Jason Momoa started in the modeling industry. He had a successful career, even walking the Louis Vuitton runway. In fact, his career as a model was so promising that, in 1999, he was named Hawaii’s Model of the Year. However, it was not long after that Hollywood came knocking.
When Baywatch: Hawaii began filming in the actor’s home state, Jason Momoa answered an open casting call. After doing well in his audition, he landed the role of Jason Ione. The show continued until 2001. Surprisingly, the celebrity then took a break from acting to travel the world and explore Buddhism.
Jason Momoa returned to Hollywood in 2003. In 2005, he joined the cast of the sci-fi hit Stargate Atlantis and continued as a fan favorite until its run ended in 2009. But it was his next acting gig that would make him a household name.
Hollywood Breakout
The fantasy drama Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011. From its onset, the show enjoyed record viewership and drew an enormous fan base. And Jason Momoa played an integral part in the show’s immediate success. His strapping physique and powerful presence were perfect for his role as Khal Drogo, opposite Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen. Though his character died at the end of season 1, Khal Drogo was a lasting presence throughout Game of Thrones’ run.
Although it ended in 2019, the show’s devoted fans continue to adore both the star and his character. Moreover, the HBO hit solidified Jason Momoa’s place in Hollywood.
A DCEU Superhero
In 2017, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) brought us Justice League, an eagerly-anticipated movie focusing on the biggest superheroes in their comic series. The ensemble cast, including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, reprised their roles of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman respectively. Though his character had a small introduction as Aquaman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League made him a main player. And audiences were smitten!
The following year, Aquaman premiered in theaters. This DC installment focused solely of Jason Momoa’s character as he realizes his role in undersea world of Atlantis. Quickly, the movie set DCEU records, becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise. Based on Aquaman’s success, the studio quickly planned a sequel. Scheduled to begin filming this year, it has an expected premiere date of December 16, 2022.
When he was cast as Aquaman, it was easy to envision Jason Momoa in the role. The star himself captures the superhero so well that, though he physically differs from the comic book hero he portrays, his look is even better! In fact, filmmakers elaborated on the actor’s traditional tribal tattoos to complete the Aquaman vibe.
Some other works on this Hollywood celebrity’s resume include: Conan the Barbarian (2011), Road to Paloma (2014), Wolves (2015), The Red Road (2014-2015), Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017), Frontier (2016-2018), and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019).
Passionate Causes
It’s no wonder this father and native Hawaiian cares deeply about the state of our world’s oceans. Outspoken about the need to preserve and protect our oceans, he even goes so far as to remind his fellow celebrities of the cause. For instance, in 2019, he responded to an Instagram post by Chris Pratt that showed the star using a disposable water bottle. Jason Momoa was quick to remind Pratt that a reusable bottle would be a better choice for our environment.
Indeed, this star has taken his concern for Earth’s waters one step further. In 2019, he partnered with Ball Jars to begin a canned water project, Mananalu. It is the celebrity’s hope that our society will stop using plastic water bottles in favor of aluminum cans which, unlike plastic, can be infinitely recycled.
Upcoming Projects
Currently, fans can catch Jason Momoa in See, a drama on Apple TV+. In the post-apocalyptic drama, all of humanity is blind. But the star plays a tribal chief whose twins are born with sight. The show premiered in November 2019 and has been renewed for a second season.
Aside from television, Jason Momoa has a wealth of movies preparing to hit theaters. But most of all, fans of science fiction are eagerly awaiting the premiere of Dune. Based on a novel of the same name, the original cult-classic film debuted in 1984 with a large ensemble cast including Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart and Sting.
The newest incarnation of the futuristic tale of political intrigue, prophecy and perseverance boasts quite the impressive cast! Along with Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, we look forward to seeing Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and Zendaya in this 2020 version. Start counting the days until December 18, 2020!