Is Alec Baldwin dropping out of ‘Rock of Ages’?

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Rumors are swirling about whether Alec Baldwin is keeping his role in ‘Rock of Ages,’ the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical centered around a 1980s nightclub.

Director Adam Shankman had enthusiastically confirmed that Baldwin joined his cast in March via Twitter, but the Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday, citing anonymous sources, that the ’30 Rock’ star will no longer appear in the New Line film written by Chris D’Arienzo.

Baldwin had been set to play nightclub owner Dennis Dupree, an ex-rocker whose Sunset Boulevard-based Bourbon Room is the story’s main setting.

Will Ferrell and Steve Carell passed on the role, which makes us wonder, is it the character that’s repelling these funnymen?

However, New Line denied rumors that Baldwin pulled out of the film, Deadline reported. The studio said he is expecting to resolve a personal issue in order to do the movie, which begins shooting May 23.

Whoever plays Dupree will share billing with a nearly all-star cast that includes Tom Cruise, Malin Akerman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Mary J. Blige and Diego Boneta. The stage version featured music from Journey, Foreigner, Styx and Bon Jovi, which we’re hoping the cast will jam to on the big screen -– with or without Baldwin.

If he goes, it wouldn’t be the first time Baldwin has backpedaled -- the actor insisted that his critically acclaimed NBC show would be ending in 2012 soon after he left the cast, but ate his words just a few days later, saying he hoped that ‘’30 Rock’ goes on forever.’

If he stays, we’re looking forward to his REO Speedwagon duet with Brand’s Lonny.

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-- Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad