When Mad Men finally returns next year the first episode looks set to be directed than none other than Don Draper himself, Jon Hamm. Whilst we would normally be preparing for the premiere of AMC's hit series to hit screens this summer, due to protracted contract negotiations that sadly won't be the case this year and so any morsel of Mad Men news will have to suffice until the show returns in March 2012.
This piece of news is rather interesting in that it leads to very early speculation about how much Hamm will be in the premiere if is also performing duties behind the camera. He is following in fellow Mad Men actor John Slattery's footsteps who directed two episodes last season (4.4 "The Rejected" and 4.12 "Blowing Smoke") and performed well in his acting and directing duties on both. The difference between the two however is that it is much easier to have an episode with less Roger than it is to have an episode with less Don. As this is Hamm's first time in the directors chair it will be interesting to see how there will be the balance between the two roles that will allow Don to remain the central focus of the episode. Talking exclusively to TVLine Hamm did joke that; “I watched Slattery do it, and he handled it with such grace and ability and ease. I figured if he can do it, s–t, I can do it too.” Production of the fifth series will begin in August though Hamm will have to return earlier than the other actors so he can prep for his dual role in this season opener.
In the meantime if you are having summer Mad Men withdrawals you can always catch Jon Hamm in the hit comedy Bridesmaids that is showing in theaters where he plays a major d-bag boyfriend to Kristen Wiig. The film has been received well both critically and from audiences and has so far taken the surprising amount of $66 million in the first two weeks of release. This figure is surprising not because it isn't good but it was unexpected from film that was a female comedy that was outside of the usual rom com boundaries, making it a success in more ways than just financial.
You will also be able to catch January Jones on the big screen from next week in the much anticipated X-Men prequel X-Men: First Class where she will be playing the mutant Emma Frost. The film has already been receiving excellent reviews which suggest that the franchise will be rejuvenated after the lackluster response to X-Men: The Last Stand, which made a tonne of cash but was met with middling reviews at best. Jones will be returning to the 60s in this new film and she certainly gets to rock the hell out of some really interesting looking costumes.
All eyes are on Jones due to matters in her private life as she is pregnant with her first child and she has not disclosed the identity of the father, sending the rumour mill in to a frenzy. Jones has been looking relaxed at the press events for the film and looked particularly stunning at the premiere (see photo, right). As far as Mad Men goes it is unknown how this pregnancy will effect her role in the fifth season or if they will include the pregnancy as a storyline for Betty. I would imagine that her role will be reduced as her due date looks to be bang in the middle of the production of season 5. As we saw last year though, her story can be reduced as she is no longer married to Don and it would seem less forced if there was less Betty in the show, who at points last year felt like her story was tacked on just to remind the audience that she was still involved.
Hopefully there will be more Mad Men news coming our way as we go through the summer without any new episodes. In the meantime dust off those DVDs or head to the cinema to get your Mad Men fix.
Really enlightening bless you, It is my opinion your current visitors could perhaps want a lot more well written articles such as this carry on the excellent content.