Jason Momoa’s latest series Chief of War premiered on Apple TV+ on August 1, 2025, and quickly drew attention for its unique use of language. Viewers found it surprising that the show does not primarily use English, even though it debuted on a major English-language streaming platform.
Here’s why Chief of War lacks an English dub and how Apple and the creators handled its language approach.
Does Apple TV+ have an English dub for Chief of War and why?
Apple TV+ does not provide an English dub for Chief of War. The show primarily features dialogue in the indigenous ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language to maintain historical and cultural authenticity. Subtitles are available for non-English dialogue, and viewers can enable subtitles for English lines through device settings.
The decision to prioritize the Hawaiian language was made by series creators Jason Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Momoa said, “Brother, that was the deal-breaker for us. We wouldn’t have been able to go home if we did this in English. Like, we can’t.” He added that English will gradually appear more in the series because some characters, like Kaʻiana, “would learn English, like any chief of war would.”
Sibbett reinforced this point in an interview with TIME, stating, “The truth is, to hear and to know someone’s language is to know the people and the way they think. It was integral.” He also told The Wrap that the language choice was essential to the realism of the story: “If you remove the language, you remove the reality. We said, ‘Let’s get at the front of this thing. Let’s show people that this is the level of dedication being put in by the studio and creators. Let’s show that we are going to lead with authenticity and culture.’”
The show’s initial episodes use almost entirely ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, with subtitles automatically appearing for those scenes. Future episodes will feature more English dialogue.
Jason Momoa, who plays Kaʻiana and is also an executive producer and writer, is Native Hawaiian. Although he grew up in Iowa, he returned to Hawaii for college. He learned ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for the role, saying, “I was probably the worst at it, but we worked really hard.”
