Jason Momoa's co-star spills on 'unique bromance' on the set of his 10-year passion project

Jason Momoa, the star of the new epic historical drama Chief of War, has struck up a close friendship with one of the show's emerging talents amidst the stunning Hawaiian backdrop.

The much-awaited Apple TV+ series made its debut this Friday (1st August), a decade after Momoa first dreamt up the passion project.

Set against the tumultuous life of the legendary warrior Ka'iana, Chief of War takes viewers back to the dawn of the 19th Century as Hawaii and the Pacific Islands grapple with Western intrusion and fierce internal conflicts.

Te Kohe Tuhaka, a rising star from New Zealand, steps into the role of Namakeʻ, Ka'iana's brother and a key figure in the unification struggle that paved the way for Kamehameha I's (portrayed by Kaina Makua) rule over the Kingdom of Hawaii.

In an interview with Express Online, Tuhaka praised the series as "brutal" and "beautiful", expressing his hope that it will inspire "indigenous superheroes" among young Hawaiians, reports the Express.

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He also opened up about the strong camaraderie he formed with Game of Thrones and Aquaman heavyweight Momoa, alongside fellow actors Makua, Siua Ikaleo (Nahiʻ), and Brandon Finn (Prince Kūpule), fostered through their on-screen portrayal as brothers-in-arms.

Tuhaka fondly recalled, "These four hammers, I called them, we were all pretty close," adding, "One [memory] I probably can't tell you, but we did manage to have a good time. We trained together a lot, we were in the gym a lot together. There was lots of laughing."

During the chilly filming conditions, Tuhaka admitted: "Because it was so cold [during filming], I struggled a lot to feel Hawaiian in the middle of winter, but those three men, I would just pull them into me and I'd go 'I just need to feel your warmth and understanding so I can feel Hawaiian again'.

"The close-knit nature of the cast was very evident."

Tuhaka praised Momoa as a "great leader" on set, highlighting his roles not only as the leading actor but also as an executive producer and co-writer alongside Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.

"I have a real bromance with Jason," he confessed. "We're pretty tight.

"And our friendship is pretty unique. But, I would say, as a craftsperson, as a producer, as a writer, as a director, he really went above and beyond to make sure one, we all felt safe and heard.

"And second to that allowed us the space, time and energy to deliver the performances without, kind of, putting any restraints on us."

Having appeared in films like The Dead Lands and Love and Monsters, Tuhaka's career is set to soar after working with a Hollywood heavyweight like Momoa.

Momoa ensured Tuhaka had every chance to excel, especially during the many "firsts" experienced on set.

"I have a background in doing my own stunts, and Jason has the same thing but his version of that is, like, 1000 times bigger," Tuhaka remarked.

"So, to be taken aside by him to best understand the lines to run, the movement of the weapon, that guidance so the level of the stunts and the fights are matching...

"We do have a few fights together where we're fighting as a duo. That, to me, was an eye-opening educational process as an actor. It was amazing."

Keep your eyes peeled for a mix of bromance, romance, and thrilling action sequences as this enthralling historical drama gears up to drop new episodes weekly.

Chief of War continues Fridays on Apple TV+.