Here in the UK, we typically appropriate- or have thrust upon us- ghastly American fads. From Big Macs to The Monkees, from hip-hop to the hydrogen bomb, if something is big and bad in the USA, its not usually along before it besets us across the Atlantic. However, the UK is far from being an entirely innocent party in this seemingly one way abusive relationship and, occasionally, the lowest forms of Western European culture have a pernicious influence on the artistic lives of the colonies. Among these indiscretions are The X Factor, The Benny Hill Show and, latterly, Russell Brand. In a similair spirit, a certain amount of blame must be taken for the nostalgia stage musical, and the most notable US equivalent of its- primarily- English phenomenon,
Rock of Ages. Whereas in the UK we laboured under the malevolent machinations of Ben Elton and the Abba musical, Mamma Mia, went from cheesy uber-camp stage play to equally- if not more- preposterous film, American enjoyed the immensely successful Rock of Ages
, which based its narrative around 1980s hair metal and power ballads, and won a host of awards around the world. Now it is finally about to make its way to the big screen and, quite simply, a litany of big-name talent are on board.
The Hollywood Reporter confirms
Alec Baldwin's casting as Dennis, the owner of the 80s rock club The Bourbon.
The Wrap confirms country singer
Julianne Hough (a small town girl who dreams of making it big in L.A.) and
Mary J. Blige (owner of an exotic dance venue) are also on board. They join
Tom Cruise who was already confirmed as guitarist Stacee Jaxxby by the films director (and a renowned choreographer)
Adam Shankman, who has promised more.
Among those rumoured to be signing up to the project shortly are
Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and rent-a-Brit de jour,
Russell Brand. The script by
Justin Theroux (Iron Man 2) and
Allan Loeb (The Switch) is thought to be nearing completion and should stay true to Shankmans ouvre of glitzy hyper-camp music and danced based movies including Hairspray, Step Up and Prop 8- The Musical.