Mad Men and Top Gun: Maverick star Jon Hamm's name has been associated with many superhero projects over the years, though he's yet to sign up to star in one.
For a time, it looked like he might play the X-Men Universe's Mister Sinister back when 20th Century Fox was in charge of the franchise and teasing Nathaniel Essex's long-awaited live-action debut. That never happened, though it felt like something had been in the works for Hamm to eventually play the villain.
Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamm was asked if he's passed on many comic book movies over the years.
"Yeah. And it’s not like they were saying, 'We want you to be Iron Man,'" the actor explained. "But there were a lot of conversations, and I’m still in those. I talk to the guys that run Marvel and DC. And I’m a comic book nerd. So, we’ll see. Even that part of the industry is changing."
So, the door isn't closed and, while elaborating on that point, Hamm confirmed he passed on suiting up as DC's Green Lantern. "That was one I definitely didn’t want to do," he admitted. "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."
"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."
"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 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," Hamm concluded.
It's become rare to see an actor, particularly one of Hamm's standing, express such enthusiasm for a superhero role. However, providing it's not Hal Jordan, it seems he's ready and willing to sign up with Marvel Studios or the newly launched DC Studios.
We're sure many of you are curious to learn what the role he's pitched is and, based on a 2022 conversation we had with Hamm, it's almost certainly Mister Sinister.
"Sometimes I find out more about my career from the internet than I actually find out from my agents," he started. "So, I didn't really know that was in the works until somebody told me that I didn't get it or it didn't happen."
"I really don't know. Like anybody else, I would be thrilled to be part of that storytelling having been a big comic book fan throughout my early teens and early twenties," Hamm said of Mister Sinister potentially crossing his radar again. "So, we'll see. I don't know. It would be a fun person to play, that's for sure. I look good in purple, I'll put it that way."
Who would you like to see Hamm play in the Marvel or DC Universes? Let us know in the comments section below.