'Aquaman' Loves His Tamales: Jason Momoa Films Movie In Banning

BANNING, CA — It's a good thing Juanita Diaz needed some eggs. Otherwise, we'd never know how much 'Aquaman' himself enjoys some homemade tamales.

Diaz, a Banning resident, is one of a handful of people who ran into film and television star Jason Momoa as he filmed a movie in the Banning area. The Hollywood star, perhaps most famous for his roles in 'Aquaman' and 'Game of Thrones,' was in the area for several days, filming at Riverside County’s Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum for 'The Last Manhunt,' according to those familiar with the shoot.

It was on Wednesday night that Juanita Diaz was driving to Smart & Final on an egg-run when she passed by the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and happened to spot Momoa right outside of the hotel.

"[I] saw him standing outside, he looked towards my way as I was getting ready to make a left ... and [I] decided to pull a sharp right instead and ask if he had received an e-mail asking for a meet and greet luncheon [for local school children]," Diaz tells Patch.

Though Momoa politely told Diaz that he could not make a meeting, he did pose for a photo with her and her 8-year-old great-niece, Jolene.

"I told him he missed out on a great luncheon with homemade tamales; that's what we planned on making if our meet and greet was a go," she said. "So as soon as I said 'you missed out on some yummy homemade tamales,' he said 'I love tamales!'"

Diaz offered to bring him some the next day, and sure enough Momoa raved about the food — even posting about it on his Instagram feed.

"We're in Banning right now, and everyone has come down to see me at the Holiday Inn!" Momoa said in an Instagram story, while then pointing the camera to Diaz and her niece, who'd both returned Thursday with some special Mexican treats for Momoa, including beverages and tamales.

"Juanita, what did you make us here?" he said. "Wow, awesome ... look at this ... OHHH! You know for the Hawaiians, that's like lau lau, you just brought me lau lau baby, I love you, Juanita! I love you!"

Diaz said she didn't feel starstruck with the encounter; rather, she just wanted to do something for the region's most popular guest in recent memory.

"I just wanted them to feel like we care," she said. "Our city cares and there are good people here."

Though Momoa wasn't able to do a meet and greet in Banning, he did visit with several members of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians on Tuesday in nearby Cabazon.

Momoa is expected to film at various other locations in Riverside County and the Coachella Valley in the coming days. A casting call for the movie indicates producers are still looking for local Native Americans to star as extras.