The cameras have been cranking for a while now, but it would seem that Rock of Ages director Adam Shankman is not quite done adding – or at least revealing – new cast members just yet. The latest recruit to the musical movie’s roster is Saturday Night Live veteran Will Forte.
Forte has signed on to play Mitch Miley, who is the lead anchor on a network news show. If you’re a fan of the stage musical and busy scratching your head at the name, worry not: it’s because he’s an entirely new creation crafted just for the film version.
The Hollywood Reporter’s story doesn’t mention exactly how he’ll fit into the plot, and from the sound of it, Miley is not going to be the most crucial character to crop up. But he’ll be weaved into the tale of a small-town girl (Juliann Hough) who is drawn like a moth to the flame of Hollywood’s ‘80s music scene and is almost crushed by it. She falls in love with a wannabe rocker named Drew (Diego Boneta) and also catches the attention of preening muso Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise).
There are also the likes of Mary J Blige, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Malin Akerman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston and Paul Giamatti rounding out the rest of the cast. At least so far…
Forte, last seen in the misfiring MacGruber, has a couple of comedies coming up with A** Good Old Fashioned Orgy** and I Hate You, Dad, which he’s busy shooting right now.
Rock of Ages is scheduled to arrive next year. Best start growing that hair now…