Catherine Zeta-Jones In 'Rock Of Ages': Star Making Film Comeback

Catherine Zeta-Jones is making her big screen comeback in a big way.

The star, who recently entered treatment for bipolar disorder, has been cast in the Hollywood adaptation of "Rock of Ages," director Adam Shankman told The Hollywood Reporter. She'll play the film's villain, a new role invented just for the big screen version.

“It’s a character that we only really came to in the last month,” said Shankman. “The character was invented to streamline the stories... She is this hardcore, moral majority, arch-conservative who wants to shut down rock ’n' roll in the great city of Los Angeles."

Shankman told E! Online that she'll be singing at least two songs: Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It."

Zeta-Jones is just the latest bonafide star to sign up for the 80's-set homage to grungy rock clubs and hair metal. Tom Cruise this winter was cast to play megastar Stacee Jaxx, Alec Baldwin will play rock club owner Dennis Dupree, Julianne Hough will play the young, naive singer new to LA and Russell Brand was just cast as Lonny, a rock venue owner and the film's narrator.

Opening up about her struggle with bipolar disorder, Zeta-Jones spoke to People Magazine about her choice to seek treatment.

"This is a disorder that affects millions of people and I am one of them," she said. "If my revelation of having bipolar II has encouraged one person to seek help, then it is worth it. There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help."

Shankman said he knew about her decision to seek treatment before he decided on casting her, and that it was not a roadblock at all.

"While we were talking to her representatives about doing it, she told us that was about to happen," Shankman told E!. "I had a long talk with her about it and she's in the greatest space and spirits. We've worked together on numerous benefits and we have a great working relationship.

Comments

[unclemo2011]

11:11 PM on 04/22/2011

I like CZJ. she is pretty

[BarockingTheVote]

03:03 AM on 04/21/2011

If she's is bipolar shouldn't acting be the last thing she should be doing. Practicing different characters doesn't sound helpful

[ZDuck]

02:51 AM on 04/21/2011

Thinking this is all a way for her to get some surgery to keep her from showing her true age. First it was mental health, now rehab, just come clean and say what it really is people.

[Deborah Beck]

03:29 AM on 04/21/2011

I believe that HuffPo created a "sensational" type of headline on this story as no where in the posted article does it make mention of rehab. Bi-polar illness does seem to manifest in a lot of creative type of people.

[skipling]

10:14 PM on 04/20/2011

I thought earlier reports said she entered a mental health clinic. That's not rehab is it?

[overcomer]

08:38 PM on 04/20/2011

Nice spin but this is Hollywood where a bipolar disorder always = coke/alcohol problem.

[MSusan]

05:01 PM on 04/20/2011

Treatment in a mental illness facility for bipolar disease is NOT "rehab," and it is disturbing that HP would throw the term around that loosely and irresponsibly.

[DannyGee]

04:59 PM on 04/20/2011

Hollywood uses "rehab" as an attention-grabber to hawk their latest movie or show.

[jackdaniel58]

04:42 PM on 04/20/2011

Please don't live your life through me. Its too stressful. I know you all want to be me but you can't. I know I have a great life but it comes with a price. I'll go into rehab and come out a better person but you'll still be you. Sorry!

[DungBeetle]

04:42 PM on 04/20/2011

Rehab...for bi-polar?

It's a very serious disorder but you don't go to rehab for it. She needs meds and lots of support and monitoring from those closest to her.

[aero56]

04:33 PM on 04/20/2011

She has been under great stress. Stress is a trigger for a bi-polar episode. She stayed by her husband's side, and she is taking care of herself.

[JOHNSPEAKS]

04:28 PM on 04/20/2011

People with serious mental illness are -Guaranteed- to commit some form of -Suicide- if they are under the care of a mental health professional in nine out of ten people with mental illness? Catherine Zeta Jones is famous and or rich so she can afford to get one on one personal and expensive care from a mental health professional? She will have better odds of controlling her mental disorder, she will have about one in four chance of -Suicide- under the care of the mental heath industry? So being famous and having mental illness can be a death sentence because of the -Stress- of being famous, so be careful what you wish for???

[Born into this]

04:06 PM on 04/20/2011

I really like her as a person, but I don't think she is all that great as an actress.

[OutAtFirst]

04:00 PM on 04/20/2011

Bi-polar, does that mean that forks and paper clips and metal coat hangars stick to her when she walks by?

[stape45]

04:01 PM on 04/20/2011

Right idea - wrong planet.

[beadingchef]

02:43 PM on 04/20/2011

I never knew that she went away for sooooooo long that she needed a"come back" She has been caretaker to her husband and raising a family. She took care of her own problems and I admire her.

[ethiopia1a]

02:40 PM on 04/20/2011

Next week she will be yelling bout her private life

[KDMac]

02:41 PM on 04/20/2011

lol!