Jason Momoa’s passion project ‘Chief of War’ finalizes its Golden Globes, SAG Awards campaign

Jason Momoa‘s buzzy new limited series has solidified its awards strategy for the upcoming Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Gold Derby has learned exclusively.

Chief of War tells the epic true tale of the Hawaiian Islands’ unification through the eyes of its indigenous people at the end of the 18th century. The story follows a powerful Hawaiian warrior leader, Ka’iana (Momoa), who leads the effort to bring together the separate, feuding islands in order to combine their strength and stop colonization.

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In addition to Momoa as the titular war chief, the program also stars Luciane Buchanan (as Ka’ahumanu), Temuera Morrison (as King Kahekili), and Te Ao O Hinepehinga (as Kupuohi). Chief of War, which prides itself on having a predominantly Polynesian cast, premiered with two episodes on Aug. 1 and streamed weekly on Apple TV until the Sept. 19 finale.

Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett created the series, which served as a passion project for both of them due to their Native Hawaiian heritage. Justin Chon directed the first two episodes, and Momoa directed the finale. Hans Zimmer wrote the theme song and co-produced the score.

At the 2026 Golden Globes, Momoa will be entered in the Best Limited/Movie Actor race, where he’ll contend against TV heavyweights like Stephen Graham (Adolescence), who just won the Emmy, Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief), Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story), Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit), Jude Law (Black Rabbit), and Paul Giamatti (Black Mirror).

Golden Globes TV Nominations 2026

Drama Series TV Drama Actor TV Drama Actress Comedy Series TV Comedy Actor TV Comedy Actress TV Limited Series/Movie TV Limited/Movie Actor TV Limited/Movie Actress TV Supporting Actor TV Supporting Actress Podcast

Contender

Odds

1.

Stephen Graham

98.4%

2.

Brian Tyree Henry

94.2%

3.

Charlie Hunnam

93.8%

4.

Jason Bateman

91.0%

5.

Jude Law

76.0%

6.

Paul Giamatti

63.5%

7.

Michael Shannon

27.9%

8.

Matthew Rhys

18.5%

9.

Jason Clarke

9.5%

10.

Jacob Elordi

6.7%

11.

Michael Chernus

2.5%

12.

Kevin Bacon

2.5%

13.

Chris O’Dowd

1.4%

14.

Vince Vaughn

1.4%

15.

Miles Teller

1.2%

16.

Steve Carell

0.9%

17.

Ernest Kingsley, Jr.

0.7%

18.

Will Ferrell

0.5%

19.

Taylor Kitsch

0.5%

20.

Colin Firth

0.2%

21.

Omari Hardwick

0.2%

22.

Jason Momoa

—

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Momoa’s likely competition will be similar at the 2026 SAG Awards, but since lead and supporting performers compete together at the guild, expect featured Emmy champion Owen Cooper (Adolescence) to be a strong contender there.

SAG Awards Nominations 2026

Film Ensemble Film Actress Film Actor Film Supporting Actress Film Supporting Actor TV Comedy Ensemble TV Comedy Actress TV Comedy Actor TV Drama Ensemble TV Drama Actress TV Drama Actor TV Limited/Movie Actress TV Limited/Movie Actor

Contender

Odds

1.

Owen Cooper

97.7%

2.

Stephen Graham

97.7%

3.

Charlie Hunnam

88.9%

4.

Brian Tyree Henry

83.8%

5.

Jason Bateman

71.4%

6.

Paul Giamatti

19.6%

7.

Matthew Rhys

9.5%

8.

Sterling K. Brown

7.2%

9.

Ashley Walters

3.6%

10.

Wagner Moura

2.6%

11.

Jason Clarke

2.1%

12.

Michael Shannon

1.8%

13.

Michael Chernus

1.3%

14.

Jude Law

1.3%

15.

Robert De Niro

1.0%

16.

Tom Hollander

1.0%

17.

Chris O’Dowd

0.8%

18.

Michael Pena

0.5%

19.

Matthew Macfadyen

0.5%

20.

Jake Lacy

0.3%

21.

Will Ferrell

0.3%

22.

Mark Duplass

0.3%

23.

Jay Duplass

0.3%

24.

Miles Teller

0.3%

25.

Steve Carell

0.3%

26.

Vince Vaughn

0.3%

27.

Kevin Bacon

0.3%

28.

Ernest Kingsley, Jr.

0.3%

29.

Jimmi Simpson

0.3%

30.

Colin Firth

0.3%

31.

Jason Momoa

—

32.

Taylor Kitsch

—

33.

Jacob Elordi

—

See All Predictions

Elsewhere at the Golden Globes, Morrison will compete in Best TV Supporting Actor, while Buchanan and Hinepehinga will be entered in Best TV Supporting Actress. And the show’s stunt team is being pushed for a Best Stunt Ensemble nomination at the Screen Actors Guild.

Here are the Globes and SAG submissions for Chief of War:

Golden Globes

Best Limited Series
Best Limited/Movie Actor — Jason Momoa
Best Supporting Actor — Temuera Morrison
Best Supporting Actress — Luciane Buchanan
Best Supporting Actress — Te Ao O Hinepehinga

SAG Awards

Best Limited/Movie Actor — Jason Momoa
Best Stunt Ensemble

Chief of War has a 71 score on Metacritic, with television reviews praising Momoa’s “finest work to date” (Paste), the writers’ “acute attention to detail” (Variety), and a scope that’s “on the same playing field” as the Emmy-dominating Shōgun (San Jose Mercury News). Plus, RogerEbert.com calls it a “meditative” production that “demands to be seen.”

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