Adam Shankman to direct "Rock of Ages"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Two years after his highly successful musical movie "Hairspray" in 2007, director Adam Shankman is set to direct his second musical movie for New Line Cinema. The movie is adapted from the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages".

The story took place in the 80’s and revolves around a man and a woman who falls in love at a Sunset Strip rock club called Rock of Ages, and fell apart amidst the rock and roll life.

The musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Asia and other groups.

Shankman was quote as saying to Daily Variety,"I had the best time of my life making 'Hairspray' and badly wanted another musical, and when I watched 'Rock of Ages,' I was struck by the fact that not only had much of the audience seen it more than once, every guy in the audience knew the words to the songs. What an extraordinary opportunity to open the genre to an audience that otherwise wouldn't go see a musical."

He went on to say,"I'm thinking big, and absolutely am going to attempt to cast with movie stars. Now that musicals are working again, actors are much more open to it."

Chris D'Arienzo, the creator of the Broadway musical wrote the script for the movie adaptation.

Producers of the movie are Carl Levin, Matt Weaver, Scott Prisand, Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Gibgot. Executive producers are Janet Billig and Hillary Weaver.

The movie production is expected to start by next summer and scheduled for release by Warner Bros. in 2011.