Jason Momoa has had more than one iconic role in his career, playing legendary characters in *Game of Thrones* and a pair of *Aquaman* movies. Known for his towering physique and imposing personality, he’s often cast as a mighty warrior. But before he was a superstar, Momoa also had a leading role in a sci-fi TV series—part of an iconic franchise that few remember: the 2004 cult favorite spin-off, *Stargate: Atlantis*.
For four of the show’s five seasons, Momoa played alien soldier Ronon Dex. Though the series didn’t make him a star and isn’t among his most memorable roles, it played a crucial part in his development as an actor, setting him up for success on *Game of Thrones*.
In 2019, Momoa spoke with *Esquire* magazine and discussed how important *Stargate: Atlantis* was to him. “It was where I learned how to shoot, how to write, how to do it all. We made twenty-two episodes in nine months. Day in, day out. The machine.” The experience of working on a daily basis for TV was extremely critical for Momoa, especially as someone who never planned to be an actor.
With that experience, Momoa was primed to join another machine. Shortly after *Stargate: Atlantis* concluded, he auditioned for the role of Khal Drogo in *Game of Thrones*, and he has not been the same since.
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### The Saga of Momoa’s Iconic Dreadlocks
While Jason Momoa appreciated his role in *Stargate: Atlantis* for all it did for his career, there was at least one aspect he wasn’t so happy about: his hairdo.
In the series, Ronon Dex sports Momoa’s real, heavy dreadlocks. However, the hairstyle proved to be a source of frustration not just for Momoa but also for the production team. As detailed by Gateworld in 2008, the saga of Momoa’s locks is almost as riveting as the series itself.
According to the article, Momoa’s dreads weighed at least five pounds. He had hoped to cut them off during the hiatus between Seasons 4 and 5, planning to keep the dreads themselves and turn them into a wig. Unfortunately, the process did not go off without a hitch.
“It took a little over nine hours,” Momoa said. “I didn’t sleep for four days. I grew my hair out when I cut them, and they braided it and sewed my old dreads back in. It looked great—it just took a long time.”
Eventually, the process became extremely painful for Momoa, and the decision was made to start using his stunt double’s wig instead.
Later, a better, fully customized wig of dreadlocks was created at the cost of $10,000. But it still wasn’t perfect.
“There is some of my hair in there, which they sewed in to make it look more like my hair. When it came to us it was really clean and kind of dark. By the end of the season it will be perfect, because it has to get dirty and used.”
Unfortunately for fans and Momoa alike, the Sci-Fi Channel ended up canceling *Stargate: Atlantis*, ending the need for the wig—and closing a unique chapter in Jason Momoa’s acting journey.
https://www.looper.com/2016399/jason-momoa-feelings-stargate-atlantis/
