Welcome to “Jon Hamm Versus,” where we will take a look at possible contenders for the lead role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in the upcoming film “The First Avenger: Captain America,” slated for release on July 22, 2011. Next up, America’s Actor – Jon Hamm – squares off against singer/songwriter/dancer/actor/producer Justin Timberlake.
The year? 2000. The place? Your local Top 40 radio station. The song? “Bye Bye Bye” by ‘N Sync. As the biggest boyband of that era, ‘N Sync had a meteoric rise to the top, busting charts and exhibiting dance moves no human had seen before. “Bye Bye Bye” was the hit single off their third studio album “No Strings Attached” and is the song now most associated with the group.
[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JoJqID-wJY]
What also happened in 2000? Actor extraordinaire Jon Hamm makes his on-screen debuts on two network series and a feature film. I don’t think anyone here doesn’t remember “The Hughleys” successful episode that featured Jon Hamm as Buzz, which hit the airwaves a full five weeks before “No Strings Attached” dropped. Later that August, “Space Cowboys” was released to theaters, the hilarious film about over-the-hill astronauts who get another crack at adventure in the cosmos. Jon Hamm appeared as Young Pilot #2 in the movie that would gross about $90 million domestically. Finally, he portrayed Jackson in the pilot episode in ABC’s series “The Trouble With Normal,” which saw early cancellation later that season.
Since those pre-9/11 days, Justin Timberlake soared even higher than his bandmates and became the de facto male pop star of his generation, and Jon Hamm became an household-name actor adored by millions of fans and critics alike. These titans of media each could bring something unique to the role of Steve Rogers: Timberlake with his poppin’-fresh dance moves, Hamm with his extremely nuanced acting ability. But the one thing Hamm does not have to worry about is promoting an album or a worldwide concert tour. Rumor has it that Justin Timberlake has a new album due in 2009, and that should keep him way too busy to headline a Captain America movie, let alone co-star in the ensemble actioner “The Avengers” which will come out in 2012. Justin Timberlake is a superstar in his own right who has proven he does not need another boyband to hold him back. JT could never return to being a team player as an Avenger, but Jon Hamm has shown he can play well with others with his many television series credits.
Jon Hamm wins!
Jon Hamm Should Play Captain America 