“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm no longer wants to be your leading man—or at least, that’s the title of a new Hollywood Reporter story on the actor and where he’s at with his career. While Hamm didn’t necessarily go away in the ensuing years after “Mad Men,” he apparently was offered a lot and was picky about it.
“People were chucking all kinds of stuff at him,” his close pal and “Mad Men” co-star John Slattery explained, “and I think that he’s played it smartly, career-wise, just finding the best parts he could as opposed to some of the choices where you go, ‘Oh, that’s a good paycheck.’ ”
READ MORE: Jon Hamm, Once Mister Sinister, Still Wants In On A Marvel Role
One role that Hamm passed on was “Green Lantern,” the 2011 superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds that bombed and the actor still regrets and often pokes fun at. Hamm said, “That was one I definitely didn’t want to do,” of the DC superhero role, but admits he’s talked to Marvel a bunch and has pitched himself for certain parts, of which, however, he won’t say.
“[Green Lantern] was one I definitely didn’t want to do But I’ve pitched myself for a couple parts of the Marvel universe, I don’t want to say what exactly, but it was a part of a comic book that I really liked,” he explained.
“I was like, ‘Are you going to do this story?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, we’re actually thinking of that.’ I go, “Good. I should be the guy.’ So maybe it’ll work out,” he continued.”
Hamm says he’s looked at Jeff Golblum’s career as a guiding light touchstone because he’s been able to do all kinds of franchises and still remain an interesting actor.
“But I look at a guy like Jeff Goldblum’s career — and I know Jeff a bit, we used to have the same therapist — and I’m just like, ‘God, how awesome to be able to do all the things he’s done,’ he said. “He had his leading man phase, and he does Marvel, and he’ll just roll through and steal the scene, and then he’s doing commercials, and he’s funny as shit. I see him out, and he’s happy. So, consciously or not, I’m modeling my life to be that: varied and happy and fulfilled.”
It should be noted that Hamm came close to joining Fox’s side of the Marvel universe. He was supposed to play the villainous character Mr. Sinister (recently seen on the animated “X-Men ‘97”) in a sequel to the “New Mutants” movie. And there was even talk that he would appear in the post-credit tag to tease the appearance. But it never came to pass; the “New Mutants” was a massive bomb, and by that point,20th Century Fox had already been sold, so all future film plans were put on hold.
In the past, Hamm has expressed interest in the “X-Men” and “The Fantastic Four,” particularly Doctor Doom, but at this point, the latter movie seems to be entirely cast already, and maybe Hamm will just have to keep waiting for the right Marvel part.
