Momoa took on the character of alien soldier Ronon Dex for four out of the show’s five seasons. While this role didn’t catapult him to stardom or become one of his most notable performances, it was instrumental in shaping his acting career, paving the way for his subsequent success on “Game of Thrones.” In a 2019 interview with Esquire Magazine, he reflected on the significance of the series in his life, stating, “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.”

Working on such an intense schedule was pivotal for Momoa, especially considering that acting was not initially his intended career path. This experience prepared him for another rigorous role, and soon after “Stargate: Atlantis” wrapped up, he auditioned for Khal Drogo in “Game of Thrones,” a move that transformed his career trajectory.

Despite appreciating the professional growth “Stargate: Atlantis” offered, Momoa had one significant grievance: his hairstyle. His character, Ronon Dex, sported Momoa’s real, weighty dreadlocks, which became a source of exasperation not only for the actor but also for the production team. A 2008 report by Gateworld delves into the saga of Momoa’s hair, almost as enthralling as the series itself.

Jason Momoa may have appreciated his role in “Stargate: Atlantis” for all it did for his career, but there’s at least one reason he wasn’t so happy: his hairdo. In the series, Ronon Dex sports Momoa’s real, heavy dreadlocks, but the hairstyle proved to be a source of frustration not just for Momoa, but for the production. 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 were at least five pounds, and he had hoped to cut them off during the hiatus between Seasons 4 and 5 — with the plan being to keep the dreads themselves and turn them into a wig. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t 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 proved extremely painful for Momoa, and the decision was made to start using his stunt double’s wig. 

Eventually, however, a better, fully customized wig of dreads was created, at the cost of $10,000. But it 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.” The Sci-Fi Channel ended up canceling the series, ending the need for a wig.