Theater News

Will Forte Joins Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Tom Cruise, et al. in Rock of Ages Film

Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin
(Photo courtesy of Adam Shankman via twitter.com)
Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin
(Photo courtesy of Adam Shankman via twitter.com)

Director Adam Shankman has cast former Saturday Night Live star Will Forte in the film version of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will play news anchor Mitch Miley, a role not in the stage version.


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 has also penned the screenplay with Michael Arndt and Alan Loeb.

As previously reported, the film’s cast also features Alec Baldwin as Dennis, the owner of the Bourbon Room, the Sunset Boulevard nightclub at the center of the movie, Russell Brand as Lonnie, a guy who works with Dennis at the club, 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; and Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige as Justice.