Will Anne Hathaway Fall for Tom Cruise in Movie Adaptation of Broadway's Rock of Ages?

Oscar co-host Anne Hathaway may be the next addition to an ever-growing list of celebrities attached to the upcoming film version of Broadway's Rock of Ages. According to Deadline.com, Hathaway is in talks to play an uptight journalist hell-bent on bringing down decadent rock star Stacee Jaxx, likely played by Tom Cruise, but who instead falls for his charms and into a duet of the Foreigner song I Want To Know What Love Is.

Hathaway is the latest Hollywood A-lister to circle the film version of this Broadway '80s rock tuner. In addition to Cruise, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow have expressed interest in the project, while singers Taylor Swift and Mary J. Blige have reportedly been in talks to play leading lady Sherrie and strip club owner Justice, respectively. In addition, comedian Russell Brand may play Lonny, the show’s narrator who runs rock venue The Bourbon and wails REO Speedwagon’s "Can’t Fight This Feeling" with club owner Dennis Dupree, a role being eyed by 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin.

Rock of Ages is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, where a small town girl meets a big city rocker in L.A.’s most famous rock club. Their love story is told through the hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. The musical, which is currently on hiatus until March 24 as it transfers from the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to the Helen Hayes Theatre, received five Tony nominations (including Best Musical) after opening on April 7, 2009.

Hathaway certainly has the vocal chops to pull it off; the actress appeared in an Encores! production of Carnival and has been offered a guest starring role on FOX musical hit Glee. She also appeared in the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night, and her film credits include Love and Other Drugs, Rachel Getting Married (for which she received an Oscar nomination) and The Devil Wears Prada. She recently landed the role of Selena Kyle/Catwoman in the upcoming Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.

As previously reported, Adam Shankman, who helmed the movie version of Broadway musical Hairspray, will direct, while a script by librettist Chris D’Arienzo has reportedly gotten a rewrite from Michael Arndt, who wrote Little Miss Sunshine. The movie is expected to begin filming in May 2011 and to be released in 2012.