Why the Mad Men Star Jon Hamm Almost Played Cole Phelps in L.A. Noire
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Newly revealed developer interviews show that Rockstar considered Mad Men star Jon Hamm for the lead role in L.A. Noire before ultimately casting his co-star Aaron Staton as Cole Phelps.
When Rockstar and Team Bondi launched L.A. Noire back in 2011, the detective thriller stood out for its groundbreaking facial capture technology and gritty period storytelling. Behind the scenes, the creative team originally looked at Mad Men star Jon Hamm to lead the investigation as protagonist Cole Phelps. According to a recent interview with writer Daniel McMahon, the powerhouse actor was a strong early consideration for the iconic role before the studio ultimately went in a different direction.
That direction led to Aaron Staton, another prominent face from Mad Men, who delivered the definitive performance for the troubled LAPD detective. Choosing Staton over Hamm was not just a random casting shuffle. The development team had specific strategic reasons for the pivot, ensuring the virtual performance captured the exact nuance they needed for the game's revolutionary motion scanning setup without letting marquee television star power overshadow the digital character.
For a deep dive into the casting history and the story behind the cancelled successor, check out the original reporting on IGN South Africa. Details like this remind us how much creative iteration goes into our favorite interactive stories before they ever hit our consoles and PC screens.
Tags: LA Noire, Rockstar Games, Gaming History, Casting, IGN
Original article: IGN South Africa