Jason Momoa has been a consistently popular name in the industry at present. The Hollywood hunk has been in several recognizable and celebrated films and series including Game of Thrones, See, The DCEU, and recently in The Fast and Furious franchise. The actor is known for his versatility and diversifying his roles. He is now particularly known for playing Aquaman in the DCEU which is a lighter character compared to his previous roles. He can be an intense and terrifying character as well as a funny chap in his films.
Early in his career due to his bulky physical shape, he had been typecast as a towering and terrifying character in many projects, for example, Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones and Conan the Barbarian in the 2011 reboot film of the same name. His first prominent role was Ronon Dex in the series Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2009) where he played a similar role. The constant typecasting may have led Momoa to reject such similar roles in the future, including a major one that would be taken up by Dave Bautista.
Playing Ronon Dex in Stargate: Atlantis Made Jason Momoa Reject Drax
In an interview with Zap2it (via IGN), Jason Momoa explained his decision to turn down the role of Drax in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. The role that would eventually go to Dave Bautista was the kind of role Momoa had already played in his series Stargate: Atlantis for almost five years. He did not want to repeat himself and thus passed on the opportunity. He said,
“I think it’s perfectly cast. Dave [Bautista] is perfect for that role, for Drax. It didn’t really fit in my time because I’ve done so many things where I don’t say much and I’m colored up and I have my shirt off again. I made a conscious choice to turn down some movies that were action-based to direct ‘Road to Paloma’ so people could see that side. I want my children to see their father happy. It’s not that it’s not a good role, it just wasn’t the right thing. I was on Stargate: Atlantis for four years playing a similar character called Ronon, who was an alien who didn’t say much and grunted. I’ve been there and done that, whether people have seen it or not. You want to stretch.”
Momoa’s explanation is understandable and reflective of his desire to explore his range as an actor. He does not want to get typecast and wants to have the freedom and opportunities to play characters that challenge him as an actor. That way, he can show different sides of him that people have not seen before and broaden his skill set.
Jason Momoa has Tried his Hand at Different Genres
While initially being typecast as the muscular and terrifying antagonist or characters in his early work, Jason Momoa has tried to diversify himself as an actor and worked in various genres as a leading man. His roles in Road to Paloma (2014), Aquaman (2018), and Slumberland (2022) have him playing dramatic character roles or ones with a certain wit and levity to them.
The role in his most recent film Fast X (2023) was also a departure from his usual villainous portrayals. He portrayed Dante Reyes with a certain mix of craziness, sarcastic wit, and psychopathy that created a fascinating and entertaining villain to watch on screen. Many fans and critics singled out his performance as the highlight of the film.
What Is Coming Up for Jason Momoa?
Jason Momoa is set to return in the sequel to Aquaman called Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The film which also stars Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman will hit theaters on December 20, 2023. It will be the final film in the DCEU before James Gunn’s rebooted DCU begins with Superman: Legacy in 2025.
He is also expected to appear in the recently announced solo Luke Hobbs Movie starring Dwayne Johnson. Their confrontation was teased at the end of Fast X. The film is set to serve as a bridge between Fast X and the upcoming and possibly final Fast and Furious film. He will star in the upcoming Apple TV+ historical drama series called Chief of War. It was also announced that Momoa will star opposite Dave Bautista in a buddy action comedy film titled The Wrecking Crew which will be directed by Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto.
Source: IGN
