Before Jason Momoa stars as the King of the Seven Seas in the upcoming DC Comics movie "Aquaman," he takes on the leading role in Netflix's new original series "Frontier." The "Game of Thrones" alum stars in the six-episode drama series based on the Canadian fur trade in the 1700s.
"Frontier" was co-created by Rob and Peter Blackie and centers on the ruthless war involving several factions over the highly-lucrative fur business in Canada in the 1700s. The factions vying for control include the English, French, First Nations and the Black Wolf rebel forces, of which Momoa plays the leader Declan Harp, CBC News reported.
In the series, Harp is a ruthless outlet who is haunted by the murders of his own family members, and thus, wrestles gain control of the fur trade and prevent it from being monopolized by the British trading company.
"I did a lot of research, but the thing that was most useful for me is just relating it to my life. Just being a father, if anyone were to do the same to my family, what would I do?" Momoa tells USA Today about how he prepared for the role. "There's a lot of stuff I can read and look up, but there wasn't one fact that set me off. It was actually me wanting to play in that time period."
The period piece did not send massive ripples when it premiered on Canada's Discovery Channel in November 2016; however, it gained a lot of buzz when it premiered on Netflix this January. Many viewers are pitting it against another period drama, "Taboo," which stars Tom Hardy.
Both dramas are top-billed by antiheroes. Hardy played cannibal James Delaney in "Taboo" while Momoa is big guy Harp in "Frontier." However, Momoa's ancestry puts him at an advantage. Momoa actually fits the half-Cree leading role as he himself has Native American lineage.
As for the story line, "Taboo," being a BBC One show, favors dramatic presentation over historic accuracy for its period pieces. Discovery Channel takes a more careful approach to the historical narrative.
"Frontier" has been renewed for a second season by Netflix.