NEED TO KNOW
Jason Momoa promotes his new movie, The Wrecking Crew, and shares insights from its Hawaii production
He highlights a beloved Hawaiian food chain that’s “very dear” to him
Momoa talks friendship with co-star Dave Bautista and why local culture matters on set
Jason Momoa didn’t just bring action and star power to his latest film — he brought a piece of home with him.
While promoting his new movie The Wrecking Crew alongside costar Dave Bautista, 57, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the Chief of War star, 46, revealed that one of his favorite Hawaiian food spots made its way into the film in a very real, very personal way.
“So I got to put in my favorite local favorite, and it’s in the movie,” shared the Polynesian actor. “That’s when I knew I made it. We’re in the menu.” That place is Zippy’s, the Hawaiian restaurant chain known for its comfort food and deep local roots. Momoa explained that the inclusion wasn’t a casual Easter egg, but something tied closely to his childhood.
Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in The Wrecking Crew.
Courtesy of Prime
“So every time, when I was a kid, I would land and see my dad and we’d go straight to Zippy’s,” he recalled. “So it’s something that’s very dear to me, and we put it in the movie.”
The moment was especially bittersweet for Bautista, who also starred with Momoa in 2021’s Dune and season 2 of the Apple TV+ series See, joked about watching his costar enjoy the food while being unable to indulge himself.
“He tore it up,” Bautista said, “and I was just so jealous watching him eat, because nothing on the menu I can eat,” the former wrestler recalled.
Bautista recently spoke about his weight loss journey and healthy lifestyle after gaining weight for his role in the 2023 horror thriller Knock at the Cabin. The conversation pivoted to the two stars, both known for their massive statures, to swap notes on cheat meals — a topic that quickly highlighted how differently they approach food these days.
“If I throw out all my diet restrictions…because now I’m gluten free, dairy free,” Bautista began, before Momoa quickly chimed in with, “Boring!” Bautista laughed, adding that he’s also “plant-based.”
Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa star in THE WRECKING CREW
Jason Laciste/Prime
For Bautista, a true cheat meal would mean going all in on pizza. “If I could just have a real pizza, like pizza with real crust that just rises and baked just right,” he said, specifying, “New York style pizza. Slices [that] are way too big. You have to fold it in half.”
Momoa, meanwhile, kept things closer to home. “My cheat meal is just Hawaiian food, just all the stuff I love,” he said, listing favorites like “Kahlua pig and lau lau and poi and mac salad.”
Momoa even revealed that a custom Zippy’s “Wrecking Crew Pack” made its way into the film’s universe. “Dude, it’s amazing,” he explained. “It’s just some of the favorite local food.”
Notably, for Momoa, it wasn’t about product placement — it was about pride. “Fried chicken, rice with chili on top, and macaroni salad, the mayo inside, man,” he said, smiling through the memory.
The Wrecking Crew is now streaming on Prime Video.
Read the original article on People