Andy Samberg Recalls His First Meeting With Jason Momoa: ‘Picked Me Up And...’

Andy Samberg, 47, recently shared a memorable story about meeting Jason Momoa for the first time. The meeting happened at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special afterparty. Samberg said, “He picked me up and swung me around in a circle like a rag doll. We hugged and laughed.”

The story inspired Samberg’s longtime collaborators, writers Rob Klein and John Solomon, who immediately saw potential in pairing Samberg and Momoa on screen. “A week later they were like, ‘We have an idea for a movie for you and Momoa,’” Samberg recalled. After pitching the idea to Momoa, he loved it, and Netflix picked up the project.

Protecting Jared: What We Know

According to Production Weekly, the upcoming action comedy, Protecting Jared, follows Momoa’s character, William

Ikaika, a Hawaiian security guard. He must protect Samberg’s character, Jared Bachman, a disliked tech billionaire, when a dangerous kidnapping scheme unfolds. Samberg shared, “It’s going to be really fun. I’ve never done one exactly like this. I’m excited about the scale and the team.”

Samberg’s Super Bowl Adventure

Apart from the movie, Samberg is starring in a Hellmann’s 2026 Super Bowl commercial, filmed at Los Angeles’ Canter’s Deli. The ad sees him channel Neil Diamond in a musical parody about mayonnaise. Samberg said he enjoyed previous Hellmann’s spots like Kate McKinnon’s ‘mayo cat’and the When Harry Met Sally reunion.

A Neil Diamond Fan

Samberg is also a big fan of Neil Diamond. “Love Neil Diamond,” he said. “Not just him, but I also love Will Ferrell’s SNL impression of him. He’s an American classic, and he writes songs people want to sing along to.”

This first encounter between Samberg and Momoa not only gave fans a funny story but also sparked a new on-screen partnership that promises to entertain audiences worldwide.