Jason Momoa Overcome with Emotion as Son Nakoa-Wolf Joins ‘Dune’ Universe
Hollywood veteran Jason Momoa was overcome with pride and tears watching his 16-year-old son, Nakoa-Wolf, deliver a remarkable performance opposite Zendaya in the highly anticipated third installment of the ‘Dune’ saga.
A Father’s Pride: Nakoa-Wolf’s ‘Dune’ Debut
In a heartfelt revelation on the August 11th episode of the ‘SmartLess’ podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, acclaimed actor Jason Momoa shared an intensely personal moment: witnessing his son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, excel in his acting debut for the upcoming Dune: Part Three. The emotional experience, according to Momoa, left him “a complete emotional wreck” and filled with immense pride.
Nakoa-Wolf, affectionately known as Wolf, secured the pivotal role of Leto II, the son of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya), in the third film of Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed science fiction epic. This casting, first reported by outlets like Deadline in June, came as a surprise even to Momoa himself. The actor recounted that he only learned of the casting opportunity after he and Wolf submitted a self-tape to producer Cale Boyter, with Nakoa-Wolf having received little to no formal acting training. His background primarily consists of lifelong martial arts training and participation in school plays.
From Premiere to Planet Arrakis: A Whirlwind Journey
The journey to his son’s first day on set was a whirlwind. Momoa detailed a rigorous travel schedule: “The premiere of Chief of War, we flew to Hawaii, we did the premiere I think [July 18th,] we got on a plane that night. We landed on the 19th. My daughter’s 18th was the 20th. We flew out the 21st. We landed in Budapest on the 22nd. He went to work on the 23rd.”
Reflecting on Wolf’s initial scene alongside Zendaya in Budapest, Momoa confessed his profound anxiety and subsequent awe. “His first goddamn scene, I’m sitting there, gripped by nerves. He’s with Zendaya. He’s in it,” Momoa candidly shared, adding, “And I’m like ‘My baby, 16 years old.’ And he just killed it. I’m just crying. I was a complete emotional wreck. I was so proud of him.”
A Family Affair: Momoa’s Return to ‘Dune’
Jason Momoa, who previously portrayed the loyal warrior Duncan Idaho in 2021’s Dune: Part One (a character killed off in the first film and absent from 2024’s Dune: Part Two), will make a form of reprisal in Dune: Part Three, which is based on Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel Dune: Messiah. This shared universe experience adds another layer to the family’s connection with the franchise.
The demanding nature of professional acting quickly became apparent to the young star. When co-host Sean Hayes inquired about Wolf’s reaction to filming, Momoa quoted his son’s humble admission: “‘It’s so hard, Papa. I have so much respect for you now.'”
Momoa, who shares Nakoa-Wolf and 18-year-old daughter Lola with ex-wife Lisa Bonet, expressed his immense joy and admiration for his son’s burgeoning talent. “I didn’t want him to do it, but he’s I’m not gonna lie to you. Like, he’s so good,” Momoa stated, concluding with a proud father’s ultimate hope: “You want your kids to just be better than you. I’m like, this young man is going to blow me away. He’s so goddamn present.”
Dune: Part Three is currently slated for release in theaters on December 18, 2026.
