Jon Hamm looks like a much happier guy in the trailers for Walt Disney Studios’ “Million Dollar Arm” than he’s ever been as Don Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men.” In a video interview released by Disney, it quickly becomes clear why.
“I love sports movies,” Hamm admits. “I’m that guy. ‘Miracle’ and ‘Rookie’ and ‘Invincible’ … I love that they’re based on true stories; that there’s something you can look to and be inspired personally.”
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In regards to “Million Dollar Arm” specifically, Hamm was moved by the notion that these two young men from Inda who’ve never before held a baseball could become major league ball players.
“When you’re faced with what seems to be astronomical odds or an impossible situation, you have two options: quit or work harder,” Hamm said. “You need to keep trying; find your way through, using what you have to overcome. I think those are some pretty good lessons to take away from any story.”
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Jon Hamm stars as sports agent J.B. Bernstein in the movie. In a moment of desperation, he heads to India to try and find baseball’s next great arm among the cricket players there through a reality show. In a short clip released by Disney, Bernstein has another lesson to learn. Now that he’s brought these Indian pitchers to the United States, he needs to figure out how to connect with them.
“Million Dollar Arm” was written by Tom McCarthy and directed by Craig Gillespie. It co-stars Aasif Mandvi, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Madhur Mittal and Suraj Sharma. The film, produced by Joe Roth, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, will be released on Friday, May 16.