Jon Hamm Talks 'Wild Mountain Thyme,' 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and The Changing Landscape of TV [The Fourth Wall #28]

"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm seeks creative fulfillment in more places than the alpha-male, womanizing life of Don Draper. Whether he’s in budget giants like the upcoming "Top Gun: Maverick" or festival titles like "Lucy in the Sky," he gravitates toward projects he’s passionate about. In the world of television, too, he prioritizes creative alignment over adherence to a consistent personal brand, landing recurring roles in shows like "30 Rock," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," and "Saturday Night Live." As the distinction between TV and film has grown more and more blurred, Hamm’s versatility has been an important asset.

The new landscape of entertainment has freed Hamm to pursue a variety of roles. More importantly, however, it has freed him to work with people he admires, like John Patrick Shanley, director of Hamm’s latest film, "Wild Mountain Thyme."

Of his and Shanley’s creation, Hamm says: "It's got all of the elements that make Shanley, Shanley. It's got this beautiful, magical realism. Ireland is a fanciful place. It takes place out of time. It doesn't need to be in the 60s, or the 40s, or the 20s. It has no cynicism. It has no snark. It's the perfect antidote to 2020."

In addition to exploring rural Ireland’s natural romanticism in Hamm’s newest film, our conversation ranged from being the unofficial mascot of the St. Louis Blues, to the exciting "volleyball scene 2.0" in "Top Gun: Maverick," and more. Have a listen to hear from the Mad Man himself, Jon Hamm.