Jason Momoa’s Son Inspired to Act

Actor Jason Momoa, known for his roles in “Aquaman” and “Game of Thrones,” shared how his son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, shifted his perspective on the film industry during an appearance on the “Smartless” podcast. Initially, Momoa was quite firm about not wanting his son to pursue acting. He recalled saying, “You’re never acting. There’s no way I won’t forgive you – I won’t let you act.” His reasoning? He simply didn’t want his kids involved in the challenges of being a child actor.

However, at 16, things changed. A former “Game of Thrones” co-star planned to bring Nakoa to the set of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune.” This sparked a change in Nakoa’s interest in acting. Momoa reflected, “He’s 16. I really want him to travel with me and learn about the industry.” He emphasized the importance of a strong work ethic, like his own upbringing in the Midwest, noting that the demanding scenes in action films aren’t easy.

Momoa mentioned how producer Cale Boyter encouraged them to create “stunt reel” tapes to see Nakoa’s potential. Surprisingly, despite having little experience, Nakoa impressed Boyter, leading to an audition tape being sent to the filmmakers. The response was unexpectedly positive, prompting them to invite Nakoa to London for testing scenes.

During the audition, Momoa felt anxious watching his son perform. He admitted, “He couldn’t pull it off if he had to do that scene, and for the first time, I couldn’t do it, and he didn’t help him at all.” Looking back, he initially thought Nakoa might get a minor role but was pleasantly shocked when he was cast as the son of Timothée Chalamet’s and Zendaya’s characters.

Momoa expressed pride in his son’s development, especially after their hectic travel schedule for the premiere of Apple TV+’s “Chief of War.” “We premiered on the 18th, flew out that night, and landed on the 19th.” He chuckled as he recalled witnessing Nakoa’s first significant scene performance, stating, “He’s in it with Zendaya,” feeling a mix of disbelief and pride.

After seeing Nakoa work on set, Momoa gained a new appreciation for the effort behind his own career. The journey has been transformative, not just for Nakoa but for Momoa as well.