Julianne Hough to Star Opposite Tom Cruise in 'Rock of Ages'

Former Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough is in final negotiations to star alongside Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages, New Line's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

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Adam Shankman is directing from a script by Chris D'Arienzo.

Cruise and Mary J. Blige are already on board the project, which tells the story, replete with hair-band music, of a small town girl who comes to Hollywood for the 1980s music scene and is nearly destroyed by it.

Hough will play Sherrie, the small-town girl who catches the eye of Cruise, who will play the arrogant and charming star at the top of his career. She rejects him and ends up as a stripper before finding true love at the end.

Shankman called Hough "nothing short of a miracle" during the audition process.

"It was a star-is-born moment," he said. 

 When Cruise closed his deal in February, it created a ripple effect of triggering other castings.

Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand are also circling big roles in the film but do not have deals yet. Despite some reports, Anne Hathaway is not joining the cast.

Shankman's Offspring Entertainment, Tobey Maguire's Maguire Entertainment and Corner Store Entertainment are producing. Garrett Grant is executive producing.

Production is shooting for a May start date.

Hough, who recently co-starred in Burlesque, is repped by CAA.