Tom Cruise is no stranger to singing on film. Over the years, he’s sung the hits of Bob Seger, The Righteous Brothers, Tom Petty and Aimee Mann on screen, but he’s never starred in a musical before. That’s about to change as Cruise has officially committed to starring in ROCK OF AGES, the New Line adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.
Though many actors, Cruise included, have been attached to the production since last October, Cruise is the first to sign on to the film. Seth Rogen, who was rumored for a part, told reporters while promoting THE GREEN HORNET that he had passed on the film. Still in the running are Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand who are in talks to join the project (and I’m sure now that Cruise has closed his deal, theirs will ramp up quickly).
Cruise would star as Stacee Jaxx, a rock star who is lured back to play one last show at the club he and his band started at. His big number is Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive,” which he performs as he’s giving an interview about his life. (Baldwin would play the owner of the club while Brand would star as an up-and-coming rocker.)
Tobey Maguire is producing the film for director Adam Shankman who has some experience with musicals after directing HAIRSPRAY (also for New Line) and working as a choreographer earlier in his career.
Filming on ROCK OF AGES is set to begin this May. So I guess we can rule out Cruise reuniting with PT Anderson on his Scientology movie?
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