Jason Momoa: 'Fast X' star on playing the bad guy and his ‘unexplainable’ connection to New Zealand

<p>Hollywood sensation Jason Momoa secured his famous feature as Khal Drogo in HBO’s <em>Game of Thrones</em> by performing a haka before assuming his blockbuster role as DC’s Aquaman in <em>Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice </em>that shot him into superstardom.</p> <p>Momoa has been cast in the tenth instalment of the <em>Fast and Furious</em> franchise, <em>Fast X</em> as bad guy Dante Reyes, somewhat of a juxtaposition from previous roles. </p> <p>There is, of course, a Kiwi connection. Momoa told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame he feels Native Hawaiians and Māori share a special connection of race and language, as well as parallels of having experienced colonisation.</p> <p>He recognises Māori as having been the first indigenous population to sign a treaty and says having seen how many Kiwis embrace Māori culture and language has strengthened his affection for Aotearoa New Zealand.</p> <p>“The Kiwis and people that take pride and know the language and understand that is beautiful, because that doesn’t happen where I come from and so there’s a lot of beauty in both cultures growing together – and it’s the greatest rugby team in the world.”</p> <p>For someone who considers himself an outdoorsman, Momoa told Tame his time spent in Aotearoa New Zealand going from summit to sea was “heaven.”</p> <p>He says our country is the most diverse ecosystem in the world – aside from the lack of desert – although “we’re all leading to that anyway,” he adds with a wry smile.</p> <p>In a very poignant moment, the mega-star becomes suddenly grounded and describes the moment when he landed in Auckland, saying he felt he had been here in a past life.</p> <p>“I think when I landed here, just the feeling that shot through my body when I was here… my people have been here, my ancestors have been here. I just felt a deep connection that’s unexplainable.”</p> <p>Having played such a well-known hero in <em>Aquaman</em>, there were a few raised eyebrows when it was announced he was cast as a villain.</p> <p>“I mean, playing the villa