“It was heartbreaking”: Jason Momoa Was Not Getting Any Jobs After Playing ‘Khal Drogo’ in Game of Thrones
With a muscled physique, high cheekbones, and a tall stature, American actor Jason Momoa looks no less than a Greek god. The actor came to prominence with the portrayal of the character of Khal Drogo in the widely watched fantasy drama Game Of Thrones in 2011.
Today Jason Momoa comes under the list of one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, but not many people know that he has seen bad days too. It is next to impossible to believe that the Baywatch actor faced a tough time after playing the most iconic character of his acting career.
Jason Momoa Almost Went Bankrupt After Playing Khal Drogo In The Game Of Thrones
The mammoth fan following and larger-than-life celebrity status of actor Jason Momoa need no introduction in the world of entertainment. The actor is immensely loved by his fans all over the world. His portrayal of Khal Drogo in the famous TV show Game Of Thrones brought the actor into the spotlight, but despite enjoying the celebrity status the Aquaman actor struggled to cement his career in Hollywood.
During an appearance on the famous chat show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the DC actor spoke about his struggling days after Game Of Thrones. He said-
“I didn’t even know you spoke English. It was heart-breaking! That’s why I wasn’t getting any jobs!”
Jason Momoa further explained-
“It’s like, what do you do with [the actor who plays] Drogo? You’re not going to put him in a comedy, you’re not going to put him in a romance: pigeon-holed.”
The entire situation changed after he was spotted by legendary director Zack Snyder. He mentioned-
“That whole audition process was pretty crazy. Zack was a huge fan of Game of Thrones… he called me and wanted me to take Aquaman. So, thank you Game of Thrones. Now I’m Aquaman.”
He auditioned for the role of Aquaman and the rest is history. He went on to become the official face of the Aquaman franchise ever since its inception in 2018.
Jason Momoa On Playing The Character Of Khal Drogo In The Game Of Thrones
During an interview with the reputed media outlet The New York Times in 2021, Jason Momoa spoke about Game Of Thrones, his character Khal Drogo, and even went on to talk about the controversial depiction of the women in the HBO fantasy drama. The interviewer had asked-
“Do you think differently today about those scenes? Would you do one now? Do you have any regrets? Those types of scenes can seem as if they belong to an older cultural moment.”
To which, the actor replied-
“When you brought up Game of Thrones, you brought up stuff about what’s happening with my character and would I do it again. I was bummed when you asked me that. It just feels icky — putting it upon me to remove something. As if an actor even had the choice to do that.”
He further explained-
“We’re not really allowed to do anything. There are producers, there are writers, there are directors, and you don’t get to come in and be like, ‘I’m not going do that because this isn’t kosher right now and not right in the political climate.’ That never happens. It’s a question that feels icky. I just wanted you to know that.”
According to Jason Momoa, decisions over what should be included and excluded from a project are never in the hands of the actor and they are not in a position to question the directorial heads.
Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to hit the theatres on December 20, 2023.
Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
