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Jason Momoa Is Done With Peace in Apple's ‘Chief of War' Teaser

Jason Momoa Is Done With Peace in Apple's ‘Chief of War' Teaser

Yahoo21-05-2025

Jason Momoa seeks peace. But today, he wants a war.
Apple TV+ released the teaser trailer for its upcoming 'epic historical drama' Chief of War on Wednesday. Momoa is not just a pretty face and burly body in this one — he co-created the series with Thomas Pa'a Sibbett (who also has Hawaiian heritage), writes the show, executive produces and directs the season finale. (Momoa and Pa'a Sibbett wrote the pilot and finale; Doug Jung joined them in writing episodes 2-8, The Hollywood Reporter is told.)
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The nine-episode series is 'based on true events,' per Apple. It follows warrior Ka'iana (Momoa) as he tries to unify the islands before Western colonization in the late 18th century. Chief of War will premiere with its first two episodes on Friday, August 1; new episodes will follow every Friday through September 19.
Chief of War features a predominantly Polynesian cast, also starring Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale'o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Te Kohe Tuhaka and Benjamin Hoetjes.
Watch the teaser here:
The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Fifth Season and Chernin Entertainment. Doug Jung serves as showrunner and executive produces along with Sibbett, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Tracey Cook and Brian Mendoza. Justin Chon directed the first two episodes and serves as executive producer. Anders Engstrom, Jim Rowe, Molly Allen, Francis Lawrence and Tim Van Patten also executive produce. Hans Zimmer wrote the theme music and co-produced the score for all nine episodes with composer James Everingham.
Momoa previously starred in Apple TV+ series See, which ran for three seasons.
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With ‘F1', Apple finally has a theatrical hit
With ‘F1', Apple finally has a theatrical hit

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

With ‘F1', Apple finally has a theatrical hit

Looks like Apple has its first bona fide box office hit. The company has already produced critically-acclaimed and award-winning films for Apple TV+. In fact, while Netflix has reportedly spent millions on its Oscar campaigns, Apple's 'Coda' remains the only movie produced by a streaming service to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It has, however, been a different story at the box office — at best, returns have fallen short of ambitious budgets, and with 'Argylle,' the company had a spectacular flop. Last year, Apple reportedly decided to scale back on both budgets and theatrical releases, leading to canceled projects and criticism from directors. Things have finally turned around with 'F1' — currently the number one movie in theaters, on-track to earn $55.6 million this weekend at the domestic box office. With $144 million in global ticket sales, 'F1' will soon surpass 'Napoleon' ($228 million) as Apple's highest-grossing film. 'F1''s director, Joseph Kosinski, previously helmed 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and in many ways, the new movie sounds like a loose copy of the 'Maverick' formula, combining realistic, you-are-there cinematography (Brad Pitt is really driving those cars!) with a familiar narrative about an older veteran forced to work with a young upstart who needs to learn a thing or two about old-fashioned, analog grit. 'F1' (which is being distributed in the U.S. by Warner Bros.) likely benefited from the surging U.S. popularity of Formula One racing, fueled in part by Netflix's docuseries 'Drive to Survive.' Much of it was filmed at actual Formula One races, and driver Lewis Hamilton also signed on as a producer. Apple CEO Tim Cook even joined Hamilton for a Variety cover story in which Cook said the company was able to 'bring some things that were uniquely Apple to the movie, like our camera technology.' The plan, he added, was 'to have the whole of the company support it as well — our retail operation and everything.' (Not all customers have been pleased with the cross-promotion.) While Apple's bet seems to be paying off, it's still not clear whether 'F1' — with a reported budget of more than $200 million — will actually make a profit in theaters. Before its release, one box office analyst told Vulture that even in success, the movie 'may end up being a very expensive commercial for original content on Apple TV.' Sign in to access your portfolio

The 'Squid Game' Season 3 Cast Is Full of Korean Megastars
The 'Squid Game' Season 3 Cast Is Full of Korean Megastars

Elle

timean hour ago

  • Elle

The 'Squid Game' Season 3 Cast Is Full of Korean Megastars

Spoilers ahead. Squid Game has returned with its third and final season—and it's bloodier than ever. The deadly battle royale continues with the financially desperate characters we met in season 2, who are risking their lives for an opportunity to win millions of dollars (billions in Korean Won). Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the winner of the last game, is determined to take down the sadistic organization behind it all. But that's not easy feat, especially after the last seasons's brutal finale. While creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk had trouble finding A-list actors (besides veterans Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byun-hun, and Gong Yoo) for the first season because the show was relatively unknown at the time, he had no trouble with casting for season 2. 'After season 1, we saw the cast becoming huge global stars overnight,' Hwang told The Hollywood Reporter. 'Thanks to that, I was [now] able to cast the exact actor that I wanted for every role.' This season's ensemble contains many established Korean actors, theater icons, and former and current K-pop stars that fans outside of the Squid Game universe might recognize. Check out some of the actors and the characters they play below. Three years passed after Gi-hun won the Squid Game, but throughout that time, he has been obsessively searching for the people responsible for the deadly operation. He reenters the game hoping to go head-to-head with the man in charge, the masked Front Man (Lee Byun-hun). Since the global success of Squid Game season 1, Lee Jung-jae has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics' Choice Award for his role as Gi-hun. Last year, he starred in the Star Wars series The Acolyte and the Korean film Revolver. Lee hopes fans will connect with the storyline this season, telling The Tonight Show, 'Because season 1 was so widely loved, we did feel the pressure about whether or not season 2 would be just as loved. 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Lee Seo-hwan is a regular fixture in K-dramas, guest-starring in popular series like Fight for My Way, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Daily Dose of Sunshine, and AppleTV's acclaimed drama Pachinko. The character actor is also a folk singer and actor in the Korean theater scene. He appeared briefly in season 1 of Squid Game as Jung-bae, Gi-hun's friend outside of the game who used to gamble alongside him regularly. By season 2, Jung-bae had fallen further debt, causing him to join the game, to Gi-hun's surprise. However, he tragically dies during the players' rebellion at the end of season 2. Choi plays Thanos, a famous retired rapper who lost all his money after listening to Myung-gi's cryptocurrency advice. He enters the game to pay off his massive debts and does whatever it takes to win. After seeing Myung-gi as a fellow player, Thanos is hell-bent on revenge by brutally tormenting the former YouTuber. But he meets his bloody end at the end of season 2. Best known by his stage name, T.O.P., Choi is a former member of the successful K-pop group BigBang. Since his departure from BigBang last year, Choi has focused on his art collection, acting, and numerous business endeavors, including his wine company T'SPOT. Another familiar face in the Squid Game Universe, Yoo returns to what he thought was a cameo as the Salesman, who recruits desperate players into the game, usually with a few slap-happy rounds of ddakji. (During season 1, viewers were so in awe of him they wanted him to slap them too.) In season 2, we learn more about the character's background, but he doesn't last long. Yoo was surprised with the success of Squid Game as the cameo appearance started as a joke with director Hwang, telling ELLE Korea, 'I didn't expect it to be this big. Somehow, I grew a little more in that worldview, but I still feel like it's someone else's job.' As one of the most famous faces in Korea, Yoo is best known for his roles in the television dramas like Coffee Prince and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (also known as Goblin), and the films Silenced, The Suspect, Train to Busan, The Age of Shadows, and The Silent Sea. He's also working on the Korean drama Slowly But Intensely. Jung is a fashion model with recent magazine appearances in Korean editions of ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR, W, and Marie Claire. Though she was a contestant on Korea's Next Top Model in 2013, Squid Game marks her official acting debut. In it, she plays Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector hoping to use the game winnings to make a better life for her and her younger brother, who's living in an orphanage. The Netflix series marked a big breakout moment for Jung, who has gone on to win a SAG Award, appear in The Weeknd's 'Out of Time' music video, and get cast in Apple TV+'s Disclaimer series with Cate Blanchett and the A24 film The Governess with Lily-Rose Depp. Prior to Squid Game, Park starred in TV shows such as Prison Playbook and Legend of the Blue Sea. Up next, he'll star in the Korean adaptation of Money Heist. In addition to the success of the new Netflix series, Park also celebrated a personal milestone as a new dad. He and his wife welcomed their first child together, a boy, on Sept. 29, 2021. This year, he starred in another big Netflix series, Money Heist: Korea. Tripathi was born in India and moved to Korea in 2010 to attend the Korea National University of Arts, according to India Times. He made his film debut in 2014's Ode to My Father and landed a number of small roles thereafter. Earlier this year, he also lent his voice to Netflix's The 8th Night. On Instagram, he thanked viewers for their support of Squid Game, writing, 'No words to express my gratitude to the people all over the world, who all are loving and blessing Ali and [Squid Game].' Often called Player 212, the mischievous Han Mi-nyeo is portrayed onscreen by Kim joo-ryoung. The actress' film credits date back to the 2000s, including Memories of Murder (2003) and Plum Blossom (2000), and, later, dramas like Sleepless Night (2012) and Texture of Skin (2007). Like her costars, Kim has shared a handful of behind-the-scenes glimpses from the Squid Game set on Instagram, making those barracks look a lot less miserable.

‘Severance' actor Jen Tullock describes the financial constraints many actors face
‘Severance' actor Jen Tullock describes the financial constraints many actors face

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

‘Severance' actor Jen Tullock describes the financial constraints many actors face

Listen and subscribe to Living Not So Fabulously on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood make it seem like TV and movie actors lead lives of luxury behind the scenes. But as the writers and actors strikes have shown, there's a lot more financial struggle than one might think. 'Financial restraints have shaped every aspect of my life,' actor Jen Tullock explained on Yahoo Finance's Living Not So Fabulously (see video above or listen below). This embedded content is not available in your region. Tullock, who is known for her roles as Devon on Apple TV's 'Severance' and Anita St. Pierre in the HBO series 'Perry Mason,' revealed that even when the work is consistent, actors who are just getting their start still often face financial instability. Tullock's comments on industry practices come as other stars, such as singer Chappell Roan, are raising awareness about the lack of financial protections for those working in show business. "Something I wish I had been told as a young actor, as a startup star, was ... what a big percentage of your income goes to other people," Tullock said. "You could be making more money — which is great — but you're paying lawyers, managers, agents, publicists, sometimes stylists out of pocket. Those things sound elective or by choice, but they're not always. Those are all things that you need to keep the train going." Read more: 7 ways to save money on a tight budget She admitted that on more than one occasion, she ran out of money on the path to success. 'The greatest shame I've ever experienced in my life has been around money,' she admitted. 'I did run out of money. I did sleep in my car a couple times, and I did not have any resources.' Tullock also noted that despite being part of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), her health insurance is tied to her quarterly earnings as an actor, meaning she could lose coverage if she's not healthy enough to continue working. 'I'll speak for only for myself,' she said, 'but you could be in a situation where you're on a successful show and maybe you've just shot a string of successful things — a big studio movie, and a couple of shows — but then if you have a hiatus where you're not shooting, ... you could be on the highest-grossing show in the country and still lose your health insurance because you didn't technically have enough coming in for that quarter to maintain it.' Tullock said that similar 'worst-case scenario' moments made her realize how important resources like therapy can be for finding stability in her relationship with money. "It took me years to get to the point where, in a moment of financial tumult, I didn't go into total ... fight or flight," Tullock said. Every Wednesday, dive into real money stories from the LGBTQ community with podcast hosts David and John Auten-Schneider. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter

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