UPDATE: Nevermind! Alec Baldwin is back in business with Adam Shankman and crew and will be appearing in "Rock of Ages" after all, The Hollywood Reporter claims.
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Is Alec Baldwin singing his swan song for "Rock of Ages" before the shooting even begins?
It sure sounds that way.
With the entire cast—which includes Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Russell Brand, among others—heading to Miami for a May 23rd table read of Adam Shankman's silver-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, Baldwin asked to be replaced "if at all possible," despite his previous commitment to the flick.
The reason cited: a newly discovered medical condition.
The "30 Rock" star is currently set to play the owner of the Sunset Boulevard Bourbon Room, Dennis Dupree—a role that features a big musical number, making it difficult to recast, Deadline reveals.
Further complicating issues is the fact that Will Ferrell and Steve Carell both already passed as well, giving a certain (though somewhat unspoken) stigma to the part.
Though no formal decisions have made, studio execs are keeping a watchful eye on Baldwin to see if he also pulls out of his commitment to co-star in Woody Allen's next comedy that will shoot in Rome, which would mark the first reunion between the actor and director since the 1990 dramedy "Alice."
(Originally published on May 11, 2011, at 10:28 a.m. ET)
