“I don’t know”: Mad Men’s Jon Hamm breaks silence on whether he’d return as Don Draper in a potential reboot

An image of Jon Hamm at Emmys 2015
Jon Hamm (Image via YouTube/TelevisionAcademy)

Mad Men is one of the most highly esteemed series in television history. Undoubtedly, fans are often caught yearning for a potential reboot of the show.

However, Jon Hamm, who portrayed the iconic lead role of Don Draper in the period drama, addressed his feelings about playing the role again. In an interview with Extra TV, the actor expressed with a tinge of hesitance, as he said:

"Oh god. I don’t know."

Keep reading to find out more about what Jon Hamm says about his involvement in a potential reboot of Mad Men.


Jon Hamm reflects on returning as Don Draper in a potential reboot of Mad Men

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In a conversation with the outlet, Jon Hamm opened up frankly about what he feels regarding portraying Don Draper if a Mad Men reboot takes place at all. The magnetic and mysterious character is legendary, as Hamm portrayed it with absolute finesse. His acting work in the series earned him two Golden Globes and an Emmy.

However, now, after a decade since the show's completion, Jon Hamm is not that keen to step into the shoes of Don Draper once again, as he mentions:

"Oh god. I don’t know. If they do it, it certainly won’t be with me. I think I’ve aged out of playing Don."

Going by his remark, it is clear that the actor is not very certain about the reboot. He also feels he is no longer at the right age to portray Don Draper convincingly at this point. The character was written to exist within a specific age and time period, and Hamm seems to be mindful of that context. Further in the conversation, the Baby Driver star also recalls the age when he started out playing the character, as he says:

"That was 20 years ago. I was 35 years old, you know, when all that came out."

At the same time, Jon Hamm has made a note about how the finale of Mad Men took place, which he states to have achieved a "very complete bookend.” According to the actor, the show had already concluded with a kind of resolution that felt purposeful and fulfilling to many of the key characters of the series.

Due to Mad Men reaching its logical conclusion already, Hamm does not wish to undo the meticulous work that went into creating it, as he further states:

“I’d hate to open that box back up and ruin it."

Although Jon Hamm is unenthusiastic about the reboot, he does have a close connection with the series. In fact, he revealed how he and his wife Anna Osceola are revisiting the show through a rewatch. In his words, the experience is “very wild,” as he realizes how time has passed so quickly ever since the show premiered in 2007.

While speculations about its potential revival will continue to persist, Jon Hamm's comments are suggestive of the fact that he is satisfied with how Mad Men wrapped up, leaving a cultural footprint. Whether or not he ever plays the role again, his portrayal of Don Draper will continue its resonance with the fans.


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Also read: 5 Jon Hamm movies and TV shows you need to watch at least once in your lifetime

Edited by Sroban Ghosh