Dancing Champ Julianne Hough Joins List of Rumored Rock of Ages Stars

Two-time Dancing with the Stars champion Julianne Hough is the latest name being bandied about as a possible lead in the movie version of Rock of Ages. Fanning the rumor mill was the fact that Hough walked the red carpet at the L.A. premiere of the stage musical's national tour on February 15 alongside R.O.A. movie director Adam Shankman.

According to a report on eonline.com, Hough is a frontrunner to play Sherrie, who moves from Kansas to Hollywood with dreams of becoming a star. (A previous rumor touted pop superstar Taylor Swift for the role, but Swift may be otherwise engaged with a world tour in support of her latest CD, Speak Now.) “We love [Hough] and it’s a good rumor,” Rock of Ages producer Matthew Weaver told the website in a red carpet interview.

The producer also spoke about rumors that Tom Cruise will play rocker Stacee Jaxx, raving, "He's got an awesome voice! He's got an awesome attitude. He's embracing it, he's getting into character, he's doing his research. He's ready to go back to 1986!" Weaver cautioned that Anne Hathaway has not signed on yet to play a journalist who gets romantically involved with Stacee: “She’s got a Batman schedule we’re trying to work with.”

As previously reported, Mary J. Blige has signed on to play strip club owner Justice, Russell Brand is eyeing the role of narrator Lonny and Alec Baldwin is being touted as club owner Russell Dupree. No word yet on who might play male lead Drew, created on Broadway by Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis, who is also headlining the tour, now in residence at L.A.’s Pantages Theatre.

As a professional ballroom dancer, Hough won Dancing with the Stars partnered with Olympic speedskating champion Apolo Ohno and race car driver Helio Castroneves. She left DWTS to promote her self-titled country music album and went on to appear in the movie Burlesque, followed by a starring role as Ariel in the forthcoming feature film remake of Footloose.

With director Shankman on hand, the L.A. opening night of Rock of Ages attracted plenty of performers who would presumably welcome a role in the movie, including Zac Efron, Darren Criss, Mena Suvari and George Lopez.

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, when it transfers to the Helen Hayes Theatre, received five Tony nominations (including Best Musical) after opening on April 7, 2009.