Mary J. Blige Signs on for ROCK OF AGES Film

As reported last week that both Anne Hathaway and Tom Cruise are close to signing a deal with the producers of the ROCK OF AGES film to appear as Stacee Jaxx. It is expected that, as in the stage version, Cruise's character will perform Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." Additional stars in talks for the film include Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec Baldwin (in the role of Dennis Dupree), and Russell Brand. The film will be directed by Adam Shankman and is being adapted for the screen by it's stage scribe, Chris D'Arienzo. 

Now, Showbiz411.com reports that Mary J. Blige has officially signed on for the film and will play Justice, the bartender and mother of the character Sherrie who gets to sing "Harden My Heart" amongst other songs.

The music that 'ignited a generation' is heating up Broadway in ROCK OF AGES. The classic rock love story of the decade erupts into Broadway's best party, all to the sounds of such feel-good, sing-out-loud songs as Every Rose Has Its Thorn, I Wanna Know What Love Is, Here I Go Again, Don't Stop Believin' and more. This five-time Tony nominated musical is nothin' but a good time.

The show is written by Chris D'Arienzo (writer and director of the upcoming film Barry Munday), directed by Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys - Associate Choreographer). 

ROCK OF AGES opened on April 7, 2009 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre to critical acclaim, following an off Broadway engagement in the fall of 2008. The Broadway production was nominated for Five 2009 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and New Line Records released the Original Broadway Cast Recording in July 2009, featuring 28 songs from the show. A New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), is scheduled to be released in 2011.

For ticket to and more information on the show, visit www.rockofagesmusical.com. Read the full Deadline.com article here.