The cast of “Rock of Ages” just keeps getting more and more interesting. “The Hollywood Reporter” has announced that “Saturday Night Live” star Will Forte has joined the already star-studded adaptation of the Broadway musical directed by Adam Shankman. Forte, whose unique brand of humor can be pretty divisive, will play network news anchor Mitch Maley, a role that wasn’t in the stage show.
This could be a great chance for Forte to get even greater exposure, something he sincerely deserves. In addition to his excellent work on “SNL,” Forte’s guest appearances on “30 Rock” as Jane Krakowski‘s cross-dressing boyfriend are some of the most hilarious moments in the past season. Forte is currently filming “I Hate You, Dad” with Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, and this fall he’ll appear in “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy” starring Jason Sudeikis. And if you didn’t see last year’s hilarious (and overlooked) “MacGruber” you should rectify that situation right now.
After a rather jarring first look at star Tom Cruise as rock ‘n’ roller Stacee Jaxx and an uncomfortable candid of Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether this movie will be amazing or amazingly awful (fingers crossed for the latter). Shankman was responsible for 2007’s ill-advised “Hairspray” adaptation, so it’s really not looking good. The movie will co-star Malin Akerman, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Paul Giamatti, Mary J. Blige, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bryan Cranston.
“Rock of Ages” is set to hit theaters on June 1, 2012.