Despite earning recognition for playing Khal Drogo, the actor later revealed that he struggled to find steady work after leaving the HBO series, leaving him, his then-partner Lisa Bonet, and their two young children dealing with significant financial hardship before his career took another major step forward.
How Jason Momoa Rebuilt His Career After ‘Game of Thrones’
Momoa appeared in the first season of “Game of Thrones” as Khal Drogo, the powerful leader of a Dothraki khalasar who enters the story through an arranged marriage to Daenerys Targaryen. Although the character was initially introduced as a fearsome warrior, Drogo gradually developed into one of Daenerys’ strongest supporters, playing a defining role in her personal growth. His death at the end of Season 1 also marked the end of Momoa’s time on the series, even before the fantasy drama became a worldwide phenomenon.
Although “Game of Thrones” launched him onto the global stage, Momoa later explained that finding new acting opportunities proved unexpectedly difficult. He said many casting directors assumed he could not speak English fluently or believed his performance as Drogo reflected the limits of his acting range. During that period, he recalled that his family was deeply in debt and struggling to cover everyday expenses while he searched for consistent work.
His fortunes changed in 2016 when he joined the DC Universe as Arthur Curry, making his debut as Aquaman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” He expanded the role in “Justice League” before leading the billion-dollar hit “Aquaman” in 2018, transforming the superhero into one of the franchise’s signature characters and establishing himself as a leading man in blockbuster filmmaking.
Since then, Momoa has continued to balance franchise roles with original projects. He starred in Apple’s historical drama “Chief of War,” which he also co-created and executive produced, returned to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” saga as Duncan Idaho, portrayed Lobo in “Supergirl,” and is set to play Blanka in the upcoming “Street Fighter” reboot.