Alec Baldwin Withdraws from Rock of Ages Film

Alec Baldwin has withdrawn from Adam Shankman’s movie version of the musical Rock of Ages, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was to have played Dennis, the owner of the Bourbon Room, the Sunset Boulevard nightclub at the center of the movie.

The musical’s score includes the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. The musical’s book is written by Chris D’Arenzio, who will also pen the screenplay with Michael Arndt and Alan Loeb.

The cast will feature Tom Cruise as decadent rocker Stacee Jaxx; Bryan Cranston as the mayor of Los Angeles; Catherine Zeta-Jones as his prudish wife; Diego González Boneta as aspiring rockstar Drew; Malin Akerman as a journalist who intends to write an expose on Jaxx; Paul Giamatti as the manager of the rock band headed by Jaxx; Julianne Hough as Sherrie; Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige as Justice; and actor-comedian Russell Brand as Lonny.