Jason Momoa’s journey from a high school climber to a Hollywood star has been intertwined with his love for rock climbing. In a recent interview with Insider, Momoa reminisced about his early encounters with legendary climber Chris Sharma and discussed their shared passion for the sport, culminating in their collaboration on the HBO Max series “The Climb.”

“Of course, there’s an element of a competition, and that’s also natural in the human spirit to want to find out who’s the best, but we also wanted to really share with the world how amazing the sport is that we get to go to these amazing locations,” said Sharma. “They’re also places that, when Jason’s come out and visited me, that I’ve taken him to, and so they were very close to both of our passion for climbing.”

The concept of “The Climb” emerged from Momoa and Sharma’s desire to share their love for climbing with a wider audience. Executive produced and hosted by the duo, the show takes amateur climbers to breathtaking locations around the world, challenging them with diverse terrains and obstacles. Despite Momoa’s initial plans to be more involved in the show, a hernia surgery following the filming of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” forced him to take a step back.

Reflecting on the setback, Momoa expressed disappointment at missing out on filming in Jordan for the show but remained proud of the series’ global exploration and hopeful for its future. Despite his absence, Momoa’s passion for climbing shines through in the show’s adventurous spirit and camaraderie among the participants.

“My belly button was sticking out like a thumb sticking out of my belly,” recalled Momoa, who added he was passionate about joining the climbers in Jordan. “I’m the one that was like, ‘bro, I’m doing Jordan. I’m in Jordan shooting ‘Dune 2.’ Let’s go to fucking Jordan, and then I don’t get to go to Jordan because of the surgery! So it’s a bummer. Because you’re like, ‘I want to be there.’”

As “The Climb” showcases the beauty and thrill of climbing, Momoa emphasizes the mental and physical challenges inherent in the sport, along with the support and encouragement fostered among climbers of all backgrounds. With its season finale promising surprises and triumphs, “The Climb” is not just a competition but a celebration of the human spirit and the pursuit of adventure.