Jon Hamm As Superman: Mad Men’s Twice Joked Casting

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In the early 2010s, many fans thought Jon Hamm would be perfect as Superman, and his show Mad Men even made a couple of jokes referencing it. Hamm starred as Don Draper in Mad Men for seven seasons (2007-2015), earning him numerous awards, including Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy for his leading role.

Don Draper, the stylish lead character of Mad Men, often sparked conversations among DC Comics fans about who could play Superman, with Jon Hamm being a popular choice. This interest arose shortly after Brandon Routh portrayed a more sensitive and youthful Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer, as Mad Men premiered in 2007.

Following the huge success of his Dark Knight Trilogy, Christopher Nolan became an executive producer for Superman films. He and Warner Bros. then chose Zack Snyder to direct a new Superman movie, Man of Steel, which was released in the summer of 2013.

When the movie Man of Steel was being developed in the late 2000s and early 2010s, actor Jon Hamm was often considered for the role of Superman. Despite being close to 40 years old, many fans pictured the star of Mad Men as a more mature version of the superhero, similar to the Superman depicted in the classic DC graphic novel Kingdom Come.

Mad Men Joked About Jon Hamm As Superman Twice

Matthew Weiner, the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of Mad Men, knew that Jon Hamm was a contender for the role of Superman. He playfully acknowledged the buzz by including references to ‘Hamm of Steel’ in two episodes he wrote for the show.

In a memorable scene from the fifth season of Mad Men (episode 5, “Signal 30”), Don Draper dramatically removes his jacket, suit, and tie to fix a leaky faucet at Pete Campbell’s dinner party. Trudy Campbell, Pete’s wife, was experiencing the plumbing issue.

While Don, casually dressed in his shirtsleeves, bravely repairs the leaky faucet, his wives – Trudy, Cynthia Cosgrove (played by Larisa Oleynik), and Megan Draper (Jessica Pare) – watch with admiration. Cynthia playfully exclaims, “Look! It’s Superman!”

In season 6 of Mad Men, episode 6, titled “For Immediate Release,” Megan tells Don she loves his confidence and desire to succeed, comparing it to Superman’s ability to leap tall buildings and fly. She says, “I love you like this… Fearless. And I want to do whatever I can to make sure you do not fail. Then you can jump from the balcony and fly to work, like Superman.”

Why Jon Hamm Never Wanted To Play Superman

Jon Hamm wasn’t interested in playing Superman, a role ultimately taken by Henry Cavill in Man of Steel. Cavill went on to play Superman again in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, two Justice League movies, and made a brief appearance in Black Adam.

In a 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jon Hamm explained why he never pursued the role of Superman. He said he typically plays flawed characters, often those on the “sinner” side, and felt Superman might be a bit too straightforward. He added that he hopes the new actor playing Superman, David Corenswet, is a great guy.

David Corenswet quickly proved Jon Hamm wrong about Superman being boring, winning over many fans with his performance as the new Man of Steel in James Gunn’s Superman. He’s set to reprise the role in a follow-up film, Man of Tomorrow, and will continue playing Superman throughout James Gunn’s DC Universe.

Jon Hamm often plays complex characters, and Don Draper from Mad Men was no exception – he was flawed, a womanizer, and struggled with alcohol. This pattern continued in his later roles, including appearances in shows like The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Fargo, and films such as Top Gun: Maverick, Transformers One, and Landman, as well as Your Friends and Neighbors.

Though viewers of Mad Men often noted a resemblance between Jon Hamm’s character, Don Draper, and Superman – particularly his strong jawline and physique – Hamm himself never imagined playing the iconic superhero, or becoming the ‘Hamm of Steel’.

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2025-10-26 17:58