JASON MOMOA’S MEATY ROLES PLAY TO HIS STRENGTHS
Jason Momoa just might be the manliest man in Hollywood.
The burly Hawaiian actor rose to prominence with breakout turns in 2011’s Conan the Barbar- ian reboot and HBO’s Game of
Thrones, playing the since-departed ( but possibly returning) Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo. He’ll next suit up for DC’s superhero team-up Justice League (out Nov. 17) and a stand-alone Aquaman film.
But first, you can catch him in Netflix’s Frontier (streaming Friday).
Set in 18th-century Canada, the six-episode historical drama hinges on Declan Harp (Momoa), a ruthless outlaw haunted by his family members’ murders and wrestling for control of the fur trade from the monopolizing Hudson’s Bay Company.
Momoa, 37, recently caught up with USA TODAY to discuss the action adventure:
Q Signing on, what kinds of research did you do about this time period and fur traders in Canada?
A I did a lot of research, but the thing that was most useful for me is just relating it to my life. Just being a father, if anyone were to do the same to my family, what would I do? There’s a lot of stuff I can read and look up, but there wasn’t one fact that set me off. It was actually me wanting to play in that time period.
Q Which role was more physically demanding: Khal Drogo or Declan Harp?
A Probably Game of Thrones. One nice thing (about Fron- tier) was that I actually got to have clothes on. But Khal Drogo is one of those roles that shows up once in a lifetime. I got to play a character who’s so far away from who I am, in a language that obviously I didn’t speak. So that was definitely harder, but they’re both enjoyable. I really love this role.
Q You’ve played a lot of rugged, warrior types in projects like Frontier, Game of Thrones, Conan the Barbarian and the upcoming Braven (portraying a logger fighting to protect his family). Are you much of an outdoorsman?
A Yeah. I actually made a (short film) called Canvas of My Life about that. I grew up be- ing an artist, but also rock-climbing and traveling the world, and teaching my kids. We don’t own a TV. My kids are always outdoors. I’m at the climbing gym as we speak. That’s the reason why I love Frontier. It’s a beautiful time period, and it’s very savage. It’s a fun, crazy, bloody time.
QA number of critics complained that Batman v Superman was too “dark” and “serious.” Would you say that Justice League is lighter or has more comedic moments?
A Let’s put it this way — I’m in it, so it’s going to be a lot of fun. You’re going to love it; it’s a whole different movie.
Q Who was your favorite superhero as a kid?
A I’m a Batman fan from Day One. My daughter’s favorite is Wonder Woman, and my son loves The Flash, Cyborg and Superman. It’s just kind of surreal: My kids don’t get to watch a lot of films that I’m in, obviously, with the things I do, so it was a great opportunity for them to get to be hanging around with a bunch of superheroes (on set).
Q You start shooting the solo Aquaman film in Australia this spring. How are you preparing for that?
A Just eat my meat, drink my Guinness and lift some heavy weights. Train hard, train hard, train hard.