WB Considering Jon Hamm for Superman
Mon, July 26, 2010 
Christopher Nolan is producing, David Goyer writing and Jonah Nolan possibly helming. That's enough to get fans excited and what not, but it doesn’t answer the question everyone wants to know, "Who will be the new Superman?"
With plans set for a December 2012 release, we've heard different names out in the open ranging from Chuck star Zachary Levi in the "Rumor Mill" department to True Blood actor Joe Manganiello publicly campaigning for the role. But who do the studios (in this case, Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures) have their eye on for mild-mannered Clark Kent and his red-and-blue suit wearing alter ego, or is it the other way around?
Sources tell TMT one such actor being "seriously considered" is Mad Men star Jon Hamm.
At thirty-nine (He'd be past forty when The Man of Steel opens), he's certainly older than who's regularly looked at for these franchises. Then again, look at Robert Downey Jr. He's starring in the Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes films (and then there's Avengers) and he's a few years older. Not to mention, Hamm happens to have been a fan-favorite for Kal-El for years now. Something that was suggested to him directly by Music Television and it wasn't like he immediately dismissed the notion.
Before anyone starts nerdgasming, keep in mind no deal is in place and there's no indication Hamm and/or his representation has met with WB, Legendary or the Nolan crew. He's one of several names being thrown around the Burbank offices to headline the new Superman franchise. But it gives you an idea of what direction they're looking at.
Reader Comments (18)
who refers to mtv as music television? ok buddy...
And what sources are these? The same shit is on every msg board right now so....really???
I remember my first comment...
What kind of handicapped mentality is that? Christian Bale was on forums for years and he was actually cast as Batman.
Some retard on a message board might have mentioned it while typing up a post in his basement so a website couldn't have heard that the same actor was up for the role?
Stop.
i wouldnt mind hamm if they are planning to do an older mature superman. But i just dont really see them really wanting to go with a 40 something for a possible franchise deal that could last 8-10 yrs to do 2-3 films. i would think they would want to stay around 25-35 range. But who knows with superman casting is such a weird thing. We dont even know if he was to be offered if hamm would take it, or if he auditioned would blow the director/casting folks.
hamm is so old looking. he looks like he's in his mid 40s, and he's 38? doesn't sound reasonable. it really doesn't make sense to hire someone that old for superman. bale was 29/30 when he was cast as batman, and ryan reynolds is 33, so someone around that age would be better.
Figured out this is who Clint from moviehole was talking about weeks ago. Eh, kinda old news.
Ya Clint from moviehole's rumored choice. Ehhhh.... If going for that age group there are better actors who could look the part facially.
Why isn't there a Jim Caviezel for Superman article? You give one to Joe Magadoodle who was never rumored before and Hamm (which was news from moviehole)
Moviehole never reported Hamm for Superman, I'd tell you to link the article, but I know there isn't one. Let me guess, you're reply will be: "Yeah but, but, but, Clint Tweeted it and then he erased it, OMG!"
Why would anybody write an article about the guy who played Jesus, because he wanted the role when Returns was being developed in 2004? He was never in consideration for the part then, and he isn't now. Obvious that WB is at least throwing Hamm's name around the board room.
If you're going to leave a comment why don't you make some sense and bring the noise instead of sounding like a patient.
i think he would be a perfect choice and a change for the franchise. they could film the movies back to back
Hamm is too old (40) and too short (barely 6'0") for the Man of Steel.
Imagine a rebooted superman that goes back to the original idea of superman, set in the 30's- 40's, with Superman's abilities limited to what he could do in the Siegel/Shuster comics-- eg leap tall buildings, but not fly. Hamm would be perfect for that. A great actor can make you see a character in a whole new light.
If it could be done Hamm as Superman would be great!
I think Hamm would be fantastic, although he may be overqualified. Also, 6 feet is not short, jerkoff.
I think Hamm would be a terrible mistake. Nolan's movies are so dark and depressing to begin with! Hamm is not sympatico at all! Like an aged Playboy. If the Nolan brothers want to ruin the Superman frarnchise forever with their dark,super violent vision of the world,ever blurring the line between good and evil,then they should go ahead and cast another dark actor like Hamm. We need to keep Superman positive, with honest to goodness American values. And there is no one better for that role than Tom WELLING!!!
If I hear one more person say Tom Welling is perfect for the role I swear I'll gouge my ears. He looks like a kid, acts like an amateur, and was part of one of the worst Superman runs since Lois and Clark. It's bad enough he's tainted by Smallville, a show whose popularity confounds me with perpetual rape of everything from the Superman mythos ( and don't even get me started on the monster of the week first season).
Common sense states get someone not attached either to Superman Returns or Smallville, otherwise the audience will expect this flick to be a continuance of either and will simply confuse them. Yes, I hold low opinions of the intelligence of the movie going audience. They made Paul Blart a $100 million hit.
In response to matthew, you dont get 10 seasons out of a limited budget tv show unless something on the show especially the star of the show isnt doing something right. It's obvious Tom Welling Helms a large superman fan base, people want to see him as superman. to compare lois & clark to smallville is ridiculous how many seasons did L&C last 3?? 4?? Smallville has lasted 10 seasons, the longest running Scfi television show in history. Im not saying Tom Welling is perfect for Chris Nolans Superman Re-boot. But give the guy some credit. I like to see you write 200+ episodes and not butcher it. not every episode can be great just like not every superman comic can be great, or by the matter every Superman Movie. I'd say Smallville has had a pretty good runs, it's had a bad couple seasons in the past, but for the most part they did a great job with it. I dont know alot of things, but me personally.... I like to see Tom Welling as Superman........ So sue me:)
Dan, you can get ten seasons out of any show if a channel is willing to keep running it. Look at the Simpsons. The only reason Smallville has lasted ten seasons is because WB is not a competitive channel and it's one of the few shows with decent numbers. Lois and Clark failed to match the same length due to greater competition with the other channels.
And I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I could write a far better 200 + series if given the chance since I would actually take chances and not follow cliches such as Smallville did. Hero and villain friends in youth. Check. Heroes love interest falls in love with villain. Check. Villain has daddy issues. Check. Monster of the week. Check.
Likewise, I wouldn't botch great ideas like Doomsday by building up to it and then suddenly giving a flaccid ending. Nor would I have okayed that lame black outfit, the red and blue blur phenomenon, or the usage of such characters as Oliver Queen.
If it were up to me, the show would have started with Clark's powers beginning to emerge due to puberty (14-16 years of age). He was weak as a child due to his being an alien, which is biological common sense: he isn't used to the bacteria or viruses of out world so he was a sickly kid which helps to conceal him becoming this major demi-god as a young man because everyone sees him as this weak lad. Since he was always weak, he used his thinking and words to express himself hence why he's good at writing being cloistered for so long by his parents due to his illnesses and using books to discover the world leaving him quite naive and feeling the outsider, something his powers make worse as he truly begins to feel "alien". Have him discover his powers gradually and begin to use them, and I wouldn't hold back the flying for virtually eight or nine seasons, geeze, get him discovered by various forces who come to Smallville to find out what's going on. Build from there. And my Lex wouldn't be a teenager. He'd be a late twenties-early thirties, seriously seasoned businessman, likely in the tech com field who has created an economic empire. And once and for all, there would be no damn Zod. Unless it's Stamp, it won't work. Let Braniac be the Kryptonian big bad, the central computer that ran Kryptonian society and left the citizens so reliant that when the sun is about to supernova they trust what Braniac tells them rather than escape, Braniac deciding to kill them for his own purposes which I'd write later. Lots of ideas, none as poor as what Smallville ran.
I gave the show a chance for the first two seasons and just gave up on it. The acting ranged from bad (Tom Welling) to horrible (Kristen Kreuk). The plots were small time, it felt way too 90210 for me (a virtual Starbucks in Smallville? Really), and I couldn't believe someone with the powers of Superman would hide out and continually keep wondering what he should do. Youths are brash, especially someone as unltrapowerful as Supes. No teen would simply sit back on their powers unless it was explained, like in Superman: The Movie, that they were afraid the government would come and take Clark away if they found out, the father casting a bit of shame on Clark for abusing his powers. Hell, John Byrnes' Superman: Man of Steel series captured a modern teen Supes excellently by having him on the football team using his powers to be an ultra-high school jock. Not the route I'd go, but an honest one nonetheless.
I'm not trying to be insulting, just pointing out Tom Welling wouldn't work. His box office clout is non-existent (The Fog), the fan base for Smallville is nowhere near as large as it once was, and he just doesn't possess the gravitas to play a larger than life figure.
I absolutely agree with "Hummergrl", plus ii would perfect the whole cast from "Smallville".
@ Daniel McFly
Sorry that this is a serious case of necromancy, but I think this is justified, seeing as no one pointed this out to numb nuts a year ago.
Smallville is not the longest running Scifi TV show ever... Dr Who is. Research. Do some!