Summary:
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Chief of War premiered August 1, 2025, on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes.
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New episodes release every Friday, ending with Episode 9 on September 19, 2025.
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The show follows a consistent weekly rollout, backed by Apple TV+’s standard release format.
What Is Chief of War and When Did It Premiere?

Chief of War, a nine-episode historical drama, launched on Apple TV+ on August 1, 2025. The series stars Jason Momoa as Kaʻiana, a Native Hawaiian warrior, and tells the story of the Hawaiian Islands’ unification from an indigenous perspective.
The first two episodes became available to stream at 12:00 AM ET (or 9:30 AM IST), marking the start of the show’s weekly rollout. We can expect the remaining episodes to release one at a time, every Friday, until the series wraps up in mid-September.
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What’s the Full Release Schedule for Chief of War?

Apple TV+ kicked off Chief of War with a double-episode premiere a common move for the platform’s prestige dramas. After that, the series moves into a straightforward weekly schedule. Here’s a quick breakdown of all the episode release dates:
Episode(s) | Release Date | Day |
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Episodes 1 & 2 | Friday, August 1, 2025 | Premiere |
Episode 3 | Friday, August 8, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 4 | Friday, August 15, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 5 | Friday, August 22, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 6 | Friday, August 29, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 7 | Friday, September 5, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 8 | Friday, September 12, 2025 | Weekly drop |
Episode 9 | Friday, September 19, 2025 | Finale |
What’s the Chief of War About?

Chief of War explores the unification of Hawaii during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Unlike previous dramatizations that focused on King Kamehameha, this series tells the story through the eyes of Kaʻiana, a real historical figure and Native Hawaiian warrior.
Created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, the show offers a grounded, culturally rooted narrative with most of the dialogue in the Hawaiian language. The production prioritized authenticity, featuring a Polynesian-led cast, traditional canoe-building, and partnerships with cultural organizations like Awaiaulu.
The series spans events from 1782 to 1810, showing the political shifts, internal power struggles, and outside colonial threats that shaped modern Hawaii.
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Who’s Involved in Chief of War?

Here’s a quick look at the major talent involved:
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Jason Momoa stars as Kaʻiana and also co-created the series.
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Doug Jung (Star Trek Beyond) serves as the showrunner.
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Justin Chon directs two episodes and serves as executive producer.
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The score is composed by Hans Zimmer and James Everingham, lending the show a cinematic tone.
Production is handled by Civic Center Media and Chernin Entertainment, in partnership with Apple Studios.
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All episodes of Chief of War are streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. New episodes arrive every Friday at 12:00 AM Eastern Time, which is 9:30 AM IST for viewers in India.
Source: Apple TV+
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