'Rock of Ages' film in the works

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Director and choreographer Adam Shankman has confirmed he is working on a movie musical version of the Broadway show "Rock of Ages."

The New Line Cinema film is expected to begin shooting by next summer for a 2011 release by Warner Bros., Variety reported.

"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," Shankman told the entertainment industry trade newspaper. "I thought, 'This is 'Mamma Mia!' for dudes. What an extraordinary opportunity to open the genre to an audience that otherwise wouldn't go see a musical."

"Rock" features 1980s rock hits by Journey, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi and Pat Benatar.