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Jason Momoa cast a special star in his new project — his dad!
Speaking to NBC News in a segment that aired on the Today show on Thursday, July 31, the 45-year-old actor revealed that his father makes a cameo in the Apple TV+ historical drama, Chief of War.
“Pops is in it, yeah,” he told the outlet of Joseph Momoa. “He’s blowing the conch shell.”
Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty
The Baywatch alum added that the conch shell wasn’t just a made-up role for the series, but something that his father has always taken pride in.
“Any special gathering whatsoever, my dad was always doing that,” he said, adding, “To see him all in the in wardrobe was a pretty beautiful moment.”
The Game of Thrones alum was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and his father is Hawaiian, hailing from Nanakuli.
“This is everything I’ve ever wanted to do, to do something for my culture and my heritage,” Jason said of why the series is a passion project. “To be honest, guys, I’ve never seen anything quite like this show.”
Jason co-created and executive-produced the nine-episode series, which is based on true events surrounding the unification of the Hawaiian islands as they face colonization in the late 1700s.
“I feel like this whole thing has chosen me in a way, like this is my destiny,” Jason told PEOPLE at the premiere Wednesday, July 30, which was in Hawaii, not far from where he was born — and two miles from where he’d spend summers with his father. “I have no idea how I got to all this, but we’re here, and I’m very grateful. I’m living my dream doing what I love to do. To play my ancestors is such a responsibility. It’s scary and exciting.”
Apple TV+
His children, Lola, 18, and Nakoa-Wolf, 16, whom he shares with ex-wife Lisa Bonet, were also nearby for the event.
The Aquaman star also shared how his father’s presence continues to play a crucial role in his life.
“My dad is a coach at an outrigger canoe club, which is where I learned how to surf,” Jason said. “Just this morning, the sand pulled back and revealed massive petroglyphs [ancient sandstone carvings] right in the place where I grew up. It’s kind of insane. I’ve never experienced that before.”
Jason Momoa/Instagram
As for Jason’s mother, Coni Momoa is from Norwalk, Iowa. But like his father, Coni has also made a special cameo before.
Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day 2024, the mother-son duo starred in a Guinness commercial together.
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“[My mom] is the one that introduced Guinness to me. It only made sense for us to be together,” Jason told PEOPLE, adding that Coni was “so nervous” on set. “She did a great job, but it was really cute to see my mom kind of panicked on the lines.”
Chief of War premieres with two episodes on Aug. 1, with new episodes debuting weekly on Fridays on Apple TV+.
