Jason Momoa Identifies as a “Dirtbag” — Though He’s Got a More Nuanced Definition
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His days playing Aquaman may very well be over, but Jason Momoa isn’t exactly desperate to add more to his dance card. The affable, 6-foot-4 leading man co-created upcoming Apple drama Chief of War, which he’ll also topline, is set to star in the feature Minecraft adaptation, counts himself part of the Fast & Furious franchise and, come Jan. 18, launches his own Max docuseries.
On the Roam, an eight-part travelog, follows the actor over a three-year period during which he interviews artists, builders, guitar-makers and other craftspeople — Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash even makes an appearance — and at least once drives a motorcycle up a dusty hill at an incline that would make any studio exec who handles insurance reach for a paper bag. The product is a sensitive portrayal of men who appear very much in touch with their feelings despite their ostensibly macho lines of work.
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It was on the occasion of his new show that Momoa participated in a virtual junket earlier this week. The fruit of this wasn’t a particularly long interview — and publicists advised not to mention Aquaman II or its rough go at the box office — but it certainly wasn’t a boring one.
We’re not going to be using any video for this one, so feel free to loosen up.
Oh, fucking goddamn. Thank God, bro. [Momoa pulls his T-shirt off and feigns unbuttoning his pants as he brings his lower torso closer to the Zoom camera.] I was just like, “If I keep that shirt on, my pants on, for one more second, this was just going to be a fucking problem …” [Momoa, laughing, puts his shirt back on and takes a seat.]
Oh, wow. Well, I don’t want this to start out like a therapy session — but in describing the show’s mission statement during the first episode, you refer to yourself as “a dirtbag.” That’s not a label many would be quick to associate with you, so I’m wondering what you mean by that.
I grew up rock climbing. That’s what got me out of Iowa, my first passion. It took me to Colorado and then around the world and to Tibet, France, Italy. I’ve traveled the world, climbing, and that’s what a dirtbag is. It’s a climber. I used to live out of my car, carry my world and my rucksack. So, from the climber’s point of view, a dirtbag is just someone who’s really in nature, who’s constantly on the road. That’s what the show’s about.
The typical definition has more negative connotations.
A dirtbag doesn’t mean a dirt-ball or a shit-bag or a fucking filthy person. It just means that I am living in the dirt. Life made simple. We’re out in our trucks, we sleep on the cots. Everything that we have made is within our caravan. At the root of me, that’s how I survived in this industry: being in the dirt and going and playing on the rocks. I may not live that life so much anymore, but that’s what keeps me rooted and grounded and humble and searching and hungry.
In re-creating that lifestyle in this show, were there any insurance concerns? If I were an executive, watching a cut of you summit a hill on a homemade motorcycle, I probably would have thought, “Maybe we don’t put film star Jason Momoa in that situation.”
It’s a goddamn good thing you weren’t producing it.
So, no concerns about safety?
No, there was no concern.
I appreciated the emotional conversations you and the other bikers have over the course of this. These types of men, on another series, might have gotten an edit that just emphasized their being rough around the edges. Can you talk to me a little about that decision?
All those men are the most heartfelt, beautiful men. Maybe our faces don’t look like that. My kids are always like, “You have that resting bitch face.” I’m like, “No, that’s just my stare and my forehead. I’m happy!” If you meet those guys, you’re going to laugh and be accepted right in.
Since your career has taken you out of a lifestyle you clearly value, was there an element of wish-fulfillment at play here?
I guess you could look at it as bucket list. But I really still travel and do these things anyways. I love learning from handcrafted artisans. Both of my parents are artists. As far as the Slash moment, I’m just thinking, “Well, here’s someone who inspired me my whole life. What can I do to honor them?”
There are are a lot of celebrity travelogs at this point. Some might say there are too many. When you were in development, how did you discuss distinguishing this project from everything else out there and avoiding the “vanity project” trap — which I think you accomplished.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen anyone’s travelogs. So I guess at least I couldn’t be swayed to do something. I can only be who I am. I think this thing is the most revealing thing I’ve ever done. It’s my life. Shit, I should have edited it out. It’s all fucking real, man. If people don’t enjoy it, that’s OK. They’re either going to love it or it’ll annoy them and they’re going to turn it off.
Well, clearly someone loved the idea because it was commissioned and put on the air.
It was originally at Discovery, when Discovery was just Discovery and not Warner Bros. and there was no Max. Discovery does a lot of beautiful things with motorcycles, so I started thinking about it that way. I pitched that plus all the other things that I love and want to do. I also had a YouTube channel where I did a lot of on-the-roam stuff. I can’t tell you why they said yes — but, fuck, dude, I’m happy they did.
So you’re at the end of a very long process.
The first thing we shot was interviewing Slash. That was 2020. Then you toss COVID in there and the ripple effect of that whole fucking thing. … I couldn’t [shoot this] because we were so backed up. I was stuck in Canada shooting See. Then I went to go do Aquaman II, something like that. So if I flew back into the country, I’d have to dash off some place for a weekend just to get these little pieces. It took a long time, just because I have a film career that’s going this way.
You and Brian Mendoza shared directing duties here. What did you learn about yourself as a filmmaker?
I’ve been directing for years. I did my first project [short Brown Bag Diaries: Ridin’ the Blinds in B Minor] about 12 years ago. That’s probably what inspired all this. I did my own movie [2014’s Road to Paloma] and then we started doing mostly commercials. I think by doing the car commercial and working with everyday people doing hard, physical jobs. I’m a student of life. If I get a job and I don’t know anything about a certain craft, I’m going to have some professional that’s going to come in and teach me very quickly, so I don’t look like an idiot playing this role. You get these crash courses, these tastes of different beautiful things.
Before I let you go, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Warner Bros. Discovery recently licensing the first Aquaman to Netflix. As the sequel was in theaters, and you’re saying goodbye to this role, it hit No. 2 on the platform. Clearly, a great many of people watched this 5-year-old movie over the holidays.
Oh, I didn’t know that. That’s fucking great. Hollywood Reporter, get that out. But I didn’t know. I’m out here doing other shit. That job’s been done for I don’t know how long.
So what is next for you?
I’m going to go shoot some secret stuff right now.
Secrets …
It’s good stuff. Then, I’m going to go direct my first Guinness commercial. Finally! It’s been a long time coming. And then I’m going to go down to do Minecraft with Jack Black.
Well, have a blast.
Thank you very much.
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