How Roman Reigns ‘Tribal Chief’ WWE Character Was Created Revealed By Paul Heyman

WWE

Paul Heyman has shared the inspiration for the Tribal Chief character that Roman Reigns has embodied since 2020 in WWE.

Speaking at the Barrett Sports Media at the BSM Summit, Heyman revealed Reigns’ current iteration is inspired by Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now.

Brando played Colonel Walter E Kurtz in the 1979 Francis Ford Coppola movie, a feared megalomaniac with a personal army in Cambodia.

Heyman said:

“The character of Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief, by way of example, is inspired by Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now.

“When we first started talking about the presentation of the Tribal Chief, I had Roman Reigns watch Apocalypse Now multiple times, because to me, that was the heart and soul of the character of the Tribal Chief – a warrior so great that he conquered his own island. We call it the Island of Relevancy. Someone who now, all the natives, which is the WWE Universe, all the fans, all the performers on the roster, look to for guidance because he’s the top star.

“In Apocalypse Now, Brando presented himself as a pseudo God. We call it a Tribal Chief. And then, as everyone relies on Kurtz, Brando in Apocalypse Now, on this island for guidance, for wisdom, for substance, for food, for shelter, ‘you will lead us to the promised land, to the Island of Relevancy’. He feels the burden of the responsibility, of the obligation, of the accountability, to be the leader of all these people. And he resents them so much that when Martin Sheen kills them and opens up the book, Kurtz had written ‘drop the bomb, kill them all’. Because he resented those that looked to him for the guidance that he wanted to give them in the beginning and then that obligation became too much for him to bear.

“And that’s where they villainry of Roman Reigns comes in, because he sits there and he says “acknowledge me as your Tribal Chief”, and once you acknowledge him, he just looks at you and says “someone else I’m responsible for.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Heyman’s explanation of the origins of the character can be seen below this news story with Barrett Sports Media describing it as:

“This was simply outstanding! @WWE and #wrestling fans, this is must-watch!”

Apocalypse Now is based on the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, albeit it in a loose fashion, with the primary antagonist also being called Kurtz.

Reigns has held the WWE Universal Championship for more than 1290 days (at the time of writing) and will face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 on April 7 for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

WATCH: @HeymanHustle shared incredible insight on the inspiration for the @WWERomanReigns 'Tribal Chief' character at the 2024 BSM Summit. This was simply outstanding! @WWE and #wrestling fans, this is must-watch!

Session videos are presented by @stonevoiceovers pic.twitter.com/ncMkeBxyCO

— Barrett Sports Media (@BSMStaff) March 18, 2024

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

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• paul heyman
• Roman Reigns
• wwe

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