Chief of War was number one in the world, and Apple is giving it a Blu-ray instead of season 2

Apple TV is absolutely gunning for the top tier of telly these days, isn’t it? They’re hardly subtle about it either: big budget, big names, a bit of genre for every punter. If you’re the type to keep count, you’ve got Silo, Dark Matter, Pluribus, and of course Ted Lasso — all different, all with a star or two dangling from the credits.

Back in 2019, Jason Momoa (yes, Aquaman himself) had a run at Apple TV with See, a slightly bonkers but oddly watchable post-apocalyptic number where everybody’s blind. Not exactly Game of Thrones, but watchable. See rolled on for three seasons, closed up shop, and left the stage without much noise.

Chief of War: The Big Swing

Fast-forward to 2025 and Momoa comes charging back onto streaming with Chief of War. This time, he’s not just the big muscly lead — he’s up to his neck in the creative side as well. He plays Kaʻiana, a proper historical figure: Native Hawaiian, warrior, legend, and allegedly one of the first locals to make it off the islands. The show’s all about the unification of Hawaii under King Kamehameha I during the late 1700s. So, swords, spears, a bit of prophecy — you get the idea.

Momoa’s not working alone, mind. He’s sharing the co-creator, co-writer, and executive producer credits with Thomas Pa'a Sibbett. It’s a nine-part first season, with Justin Chon (yes, the bloke from Twilight) handling directing duties on the first two episodes, and Momoa lining up to direct the finale himself. Commitment? Certainly not lacking here.

Critical Success and Chart-Topping Numbers

The reviews landed, and they were more enthusiastic than Apple probably dared hope. Chief of War scored a solid 92% on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season — critics mostly loved its dogged effort at historical accuracy, which you can chalk up to a stack of cultural advisors and an overwhelmingly Polynesian cast. The lead performance? Apparently top-shelf Momoa (which, granted, is a bit of a spectrum all its own).

Chief of War set a new record by capturing the worldwide number one position on the streaming charts in 2025.

Physical media fans, you’re in luck — Chief of War Season 1 is due out on Blu-ray on 17 November. That’s after its streaming stint, but at least you’ll be able to flash that box set about and act superior to the digital-only crowd for once.

Renewal? Still Up in the Air

Here’s where it gets a bit less straightforward. With all this hubbub, one would think Season 2 was a shoo-in. Not so fast: as of now, Apple TV isn’t ready to say anything official about a renewal. It’s not a creative drought, according to Momoa — the series apparently has more stories to tell. But when you pitch something as a limited run, these are the games streamers play.

Still, according to Hawaii News Now back in July, there’s a smidge of optimism. The producers reckon they could get word of Season 2 — and maybe even a Season 3 — sometime this month. That’s not quite a guarantee, but it’s less ambiguous than the usual ‘awaiting further news’ spiel.

Momoa’s Plate: Piled High

Whether or not Chief of War marches on for another round, Momoa stays booked and busy. Amongst his upcoming gigs: there’s a live-action Street Fighter film cooking, Dune: Part Three trying to out-epic itself, and a Minecraft follow-up. Not much sign he’ll be taking a break any time soon.