Overview
- Daniel McMahon, a writer on LA Noire, revealed in a new interview with Cade Onder that Jon Hamm was discussed as a candidate for protagonist Cole Phelps, a disclosure reported this week.
- The role ultimately went to Aaron Staton because McMahon and the team felt Staton better conveyed Phelps’s youth, vulnerability, and uncertainty in the character.
- McMahon said Hamm would likely have been costly and that his on‑screen strength made him a closer fit for the more authoritative character Jack Kelso rather than for Phelps.
- This is a retrospective clarification of development choices and does not change the game’s production record, which includes LA Noire’s 2011 release, later ports and a 2017 VR edition, and no direct sequel.
- The anecdote highlights industry trade-offs between star casting, character fit and budget, and comes as Rockstar prepares a major release this year with Grand Theft Auto 6 whose official cast remains unconfirmed.