Though The Hollywood Reporter announced this prematurely yesterday (Tuesday May 10, 2011) with the news being retracted by the film production an hour later, it is now official -- Alec Baldwin has left the film adaptation of ROCK OF AGES. :-
I have a friend working in casting and according to her Baldwin is still on board, which is good since they begin filming in 2 weeks, and finding an a list replacement would be next to impossible.
I hope, when the smoke clears, that Baldwin is still in the movie. Seeing one of America's most prestigious actors, a star of stage and both screens, with a mullet singing "Can't Fight This Feeling" will be worth the price of admission.
Kudos to Baldwin for always having his feet in both high and low culture. That's a rare achievement and it takes a specific type of person to pull it off.
With Baldwin as Dennis, and Brand as Lonny, I hope they flipflop the time given to each character (meaning more Dennis, less Lonny). Baldwin is just the best, period. Meanwhile, Brand is best in (very) small doses. Some would say he's best in no doses.