Russell Brand first really broke out as a film personality by playing addled rocker Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a supporting role he would later step up to leading man status for Get Him to the Greek. So it seems somehow fitting that he’s currently considering a part in Rock of Ages, adapted from the ‘80s hair rock-fuelled musical.
He’s looking at playing Lonny, the manager of the Sunset Strip rock club owned by Dennis Dupree (a role that Alec Baldwin might be on to snatch). Lonny is also the narrator of the story, which follows aspiring rocker Drew as he finds love, rejection and ultimately his dream – even if it’s not the one he originally thought he wanted. It’s set against the backdrop of a German developer looking to demolish the Bourbon Room as part sanitising the Strip, and a rock god named Stacee Jaxx promising to help save the place.
Hairspray director Adam Shankman has the megaphone, and Brand has form with him, having appeared in his Bedtime Stories. And in a more surprising move, Tom Cruise is apparently close to signing on to play Jaxx, a part that would see him belting out Bon Jovi songs and more.
Shankman is working from a script by the musical’s scribe Chris D’Arienzo, which has since been given a polish by Little Miss Sunshine/T****oy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt. Cruise, Brand and Baldwin rocking out? If they pull off that casting coup, this’ll be one to watch for sure…