AMC is billing it as "the end of an era," and it's hard to argue with that sentiment: after seven stellar seasons, acclaimed period drama Mad Men will pour its last whiskey in just two short weeks. The show has helped launch many careers, including Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks, but none have benefited more from the show's success than Jon Hamm. The 44-year-old actor went from perennial supporting player to sought-after leading men virtually overnight, his name synonymous with sex, booze, and advertising. (Strangely, he's gone severely under-awarded for his portrayal of iconic ad man Don Draper; he's only won one out of five Golden Globes he's been nominated for and zero out of seven Emmys.) As the Mad Men finale approaches, news has broken of one of his first starring roles post-Draper, in the upcoming thriller High Wire Act .
During his tenure on AMC, Hamm supplemented his dramatic role with various bit parts in comedies on both the big and small screens, showcasing a surprisingly strong sense of humor. (Bridesmaids, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, Web Therapy, Parks And Recreation, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are some of the sillier credits on his resume.) The first three parts the actors has lined up after Mad Men continue to speak to Hamm's comedic sensibilities — High Wire Act will mark his first return to drama since Matthew Weiner's show signed off.
Just in case you're already going through Jon Hamm withdrawal thinking of Mad Men's impending series finale, here are the details on each of his four upcoming projects:
Minions
The spinoff of the hit Despicable Me animated films arrives this July, and it could not possibly look more adorable. The film features the titular yellow lackeys as they enter the service of a crooked couple attempting to take over the world: supervillain Scarlet Overkill and her inventor husband Herb — who will be voiced by Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp
I know, I still can't believe this is happening either. This past January, it was announced that Hamm was joining the cast of Netflix's revival of the 2001 cult comedy along with other comedic heavy hitters like Kristen Wiig, Jason Schwartzman, and Chris Pine. They'll be appearing alongside about 20 returning cast members from the original film, including Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, and David Hyde Pierce. Hamm will allegedly be playing "a secret spy" code-named Falcon. First Day Of Camp will open its doors on July 17.
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Director Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland, Paul) will helm this comedy about "a type-A couple in an idyllic suburban neighborhood who discover that their new, seemingly perfect neighbors are undercover agents." The film will star Hamm and Zach Galifianakis — of the two, presumably Hamm with be the undercover agent — as well as Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) and Gal Gadot (aka Batman Vs. Superman 's Wonder Woman).
High Wire Act
Hamm's most recently announced project is easily his most dramatic. The actor is now set to star in this thriller from Tony Gilroy (above), the writer of The Bourne Identity and Michael Clayton, and directed by Brad Anderson (of Christian Bale's The Machinist). High Wire Act supposedly "channel[s] John le Carré" (famous author of spy novels like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and is " set in 1980’s Beirut, where a former U.S. diplomat attempts to save a former colleague from the people who might be responsible for his own family’s death."
Images: Max Nash, AFP/Getty Images
