Jason Momoa’s $90M post-Game of Thrones movie flopped, proving even Khal Drogo couldn’t conquer creative chaos. Read full story here.

Not even Jason Momoa’s towering charisma could save this one! Fresh off Game of Thrones, the man who made Khal Drogo a household name took a swing at a $90M blockbuster that had all the ingredients for success—but ended up tasting like a burnt soufflé. The problem? Way too many chefs meddling in the cinematic kitchen.

Jason Momoa and Emilia Clarke in Game Of Thrones | Credit: HBO

What should’ve been a post-Westeros win turned into a hot mess of conflicting visions and underwhelming execution. Momoa, being the force of nature he is, still managed to shine, but the movie itself? Let’s just say it didn’t earn any Iron Throne-level glory. Sometimes even the fiercest warriors can’t conquer chaos—and this film proved exactly that.

Jason Momoa Opens Up About Conan the Barbarian: The $90M Gamble That Flopped After Game of Thrones

Jason Momoa in a still from Conan the Barbarian | Credits: Paradox Entertainment

Jason Momoa’s breakout as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones (2011) was supposed to be his golden ticket. But after his character’s shocking season-one finale exit, things didn’t go as planned. Instead of Hollywood doors swinging open, Momoa found himself struggling.

Then happened Conan the Barbarian, a $90M reboot that looked like a career-defining opportunity. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Released just a month after Khal Drogo’s demise in August 2011, Conan flopped at the box office. Momoa admitted:

After Thrones was really challenging. Conan didn’t do well at all, which was a bummer. It was fun to shoot, but there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Then Thrones didn’t get big until the third or fourth season, so it took a long time. 

But right out of the gates most people didn’t think I spoke English. It was hard to get roles. They didn’t know me. They weren’t about to get the big naked guy and cast him in a comedy or a romance.

The big-budget misfire made an already tough time even harder for the actor, who was balancing bills and a young family. Casting directors pigeonholed him as the big naked guy and doubted his range. Despite years of grind—including stints in Baywatch and Stargate: Atlantis—he was stuck waiting for Hollywood to catch up.

A still from Conan the Barbarian | Credits: Paradox Entertainment

Momoa’s humor and heart helped him push through. But he had to write his own path to get there, as he asserted:

I trained in comedy, and that’s all I wanted to do. It’s exciting I’m writing my own stuff now, because I just didn’t have those opportunities.

Fast-forward a decade, and Jason Momoa’s status as Aquaman in DC’s billion-dollar franchise proved he’s no one-hit wonder. For Momoa, the struggles post-Thrones were just part of the journey. Clearly, the road to stardom isn’t always smooth—but it’s one Momoa drives full throttle.

Jason Momoa Kicks Off Filming The Wrecking Crew with Epic Vibes and Big-Time Excitement

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO Entertainment

Jason Momoa kicked off filming The Wrecking Crew, and let’s just say, the man knows how to celebrate. On day one, he hit up Instagram with a feel-good post full of scenic magic hour vibes, colorful hair bling, and snaps of him chilling with director Ángel Manuel Soto.

This action-packed flick—dreamed up by Dave Bautista back a few years ago—finally got the green light in 2023. Now it’s real. Momoa and Bautista star as half-brothers: one’s a straight-laced Navy SEAL, the other’s a wild-card cop. Their mission? Solve their dad’s murder.

With big names like Morena Baccarin and Temuera Morrison joining the cast, this one’s stacked. Bautista hasn’t hit the set yet, but when he does, you know the fun’s about to double.