Skip to main content

Jon Hamm as Sterling Archer? The animated series’ producers want it to happen

jon hamm archer movie emmys
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Archer is between seasons again, so fans can refocus their attention on other important matters, such as discussions of who would play the animated spy series’ characters in a hypothetical live-action movie. It turns out Archer executive producers Matt Thompson, Casey Willis, and Adam Reed have had some of these conversations themselves. In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Thompson revealed that they would hope to bring Jon Hamm on board to play Sterling Archer.

Now, whether or not such a movie will ever be made is a big question mark at this point. The FX series is still going strong, and Thompson doesn’t think they will make a movie before it ends. On top of that, they may opt to stick with animation.

“We vacillate between if you do it, why are you doing the TV show? And should it be live-action, or should it be cartoon?” he said. “The talk is there, we just still haven’t decided. I don’t think there will be a movie before the last episode of Archer airs on TV.”

One factor that has played a role in the decision process is the example of Cartoon Network’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Thompson’s friend David Willis co-created the Adult Swim animated series, and he believes that making a movie version hurt the TV show’s viewership. “That’s influenced our decision-making a great deal,” said Thompson.

Ultimately, it sounds like the final say is up to Reed, but if they do make a movie and it is live-action, they definitely want Jon Hamm. It sounds like the only downside they see is that it would mean changing the voice of the the animated character, which is provided by H. Jon Benjamin; their ideal is Jon Benjamin’s voice coming out of Hamm.

“If it is live-action — and if it is not Jon Benjamin — it is our greatest hope that it would be Jon Hamm,” said Thompson. “I can say that with confidence.”

Hamm has proven interested in Archer in the past; he once guest-starred as another character on the show. On top of that, his TV series Mad Men influenced the look of the animated series. We can definitely see Hamm as Sterling Archer, assuming all of these stars eventually align.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
The best sci-fi movies on Hulu right now
Caesar rides with a grim expression on his face in War for the Planet of the Apes.

Among the new movies on Hulu in April, the only prominent additions to the lineup of sci-fi movies were The Fifth Element and Pacific Rim, both of which have been on Hulu before. But as long as Hulu has top-tier titles like War for the Planet of the Apes and the 2021 remake of Dune, then sci-fi fans should be very happy with their options.

You can find the rest of our picks for the best sci-fi movies on Hulu below. They include the original Alien, Blade Runner 2049, and more. Not all of these films on this list are owned by Disney or 20th Century Studios, so catch them while you can. They won't be around forever.

Read more
The best hidden gems on Netflix right now
Ahn Eun-jin in Goodbye Earth.

Have you ever come across a show on Netflix that was so particular to your taste that it felt like the series was made for you? If so, chances are good that it only got a single season on Netflix. No one has enough time to watch every series on Netflix, and the vast majority of them come and go with such speed that it's almost like they were never there at all.

This roundup of the best hidden gems on Netflix is dedicated to finding shows that deserve a second look, or at least an elevated push on Netflix's algorithm. This month, we're putting the spotlight on Goodbye Earth, a new Korean drama that dropped this week, as well as a nature documentary called Our Living World and a sitcom that was one of Netflix's one-season wonders: The Good Cop. You can find these three and more below in our roundup of the best hidden gems on Netflix.

Read more
Everything you need to know about The Night Agent season 2
A man holds up his badge in The Night Agent.

One of Netflix's biggest shows of 2023 was The Night Agent. Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent stars Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent who receives a mysterious call one night while working as a Night Action telephone operator. The call sends Peter down a dangerous road as he fights to uncover a conspiracy involving a mole at the White House. The Night Agent was created by Shawn Ryan, a TV veteran who also developed The Shield, Timeless, and S.W.A.T.

Due to the show's popularity, Netflix renewed The Night Agent for a second season. Production on season 2 is underway, with filming expected to last several months. Here is everything we know about The Night Agent season 2, including the cast, plot, release date, and trailer.
Who is in The Night Agent season 2 cast?

Read more