Would-be film stars audition to portray King Kamehameha

Dozens of professional and aspiring Native Hawaiian actors answered a casting call Thursday night in hopes of playing the role of King Kamehameha in an upcoming movie called “The Islands.”

Among them was Justin Kauwalu, 25, of Waianae, who was trying his hand at acting for the first time.

“My wife signed me up and told me about it yesterday,” Kauwalu said at the Japanese Cultural Center.

The father of two said he was excited by the possibility. “It was something I always wanted to do, and with it being a Native Hawaiian character, that’s even better.”

The independent motion picture is described as a sweeping epic that will capture the story of Hawaii, from the arrival of Capt. Cook to the rise of Kamehameha and the unification of the islands, and all the way to the overthrow of the last monarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani.

Unlike the movie “Niihau,” which cast blue-eyed actor Zach McGowan in the role of hero Ben Kanahele, the makers of “The Islands” are promising to cast Native Hawaiians. Also unlike “Niihau,” which reportedly is scheduled to start filming in Malaysia this month, “The Islands” will be shot in Hawaii.

“No, I don’t want to cast Bradley Cooper as Kamehameha,” producer-director Tim Chey said with a laugh between auditions.

Chey, a part-time Hawaii resident who has been working on this project for 20 years in between producing a dozen other pictures, including 2014’s “Freedom” with Cuba Gooding Jr., said it would be Native Hawaiians all the way for the major Hawaiian roles.

Also at the Japanese Cultural Center tryout was Terani Richmond, 25, of Maui. He’s been in the movie trade for four years, mostly as a grip and electrical worker, but he also won a speaking role in an upcoming motion picture and has performed stunts,as well.

The Kamehameha Schools-Maui graduate said he was excited about the possibility of playing the Hawaiian king.

“This is a really good opportunity,” Richmond said, adding that his heart swells with his Hawaiian heritage.

Casting for the role is expected to last through August, with local and national casting agencies involved in the search. Filming in Hawaii begins this fall, with the movie scheduled for release in November 2018.

Chey says he’s consulted with historians from Bishop Museum and the University of Hawaii in an effort to make the movie as authentic as possible.

Meanwhile, the film’s website, theislandsmovie.com, offers some rather ambitious claims:

>> The film will not be made unless one of the following A-list actors stars as Capt. Cook: Russell Crowe, Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, Richard Gere, Dennis Quaid, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Daniel Day-Lewis, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler and Nicolas Cage.

>> Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Marcus Mariota will be asked to take on potential roles.

>> The movie, described as the biggest film ever about Hawaii, will bring 2,000 jobs to Hawaii.

>> “We believe ‘The Islands’ will be one of 10 films nominated for ‘Best Picture’ for 2018.”

>> The film will appear in 3,000 theaters worldwide on Nov. 9, 2018, with target box-office revenue of $65 million to $150 million.

>> The plan is to market heavily to the faith-based audience, a category with the potential of generating $65 million to $380 million.

>> Comparison movies listed are “The Descendants,” “Dances With Wolves,” “Braveheart” and “Gladiator,” among others.