Following his turn as overweight and sadistic studio head Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder, Tom Cruise could be tackling another new genre and role.

Deadline is reporting that New Line has offered the Cruiser a supporting role in Rock of Ages, the movie version of the hit Broadway musical. Based on a book by Chris D’Arienzo, the musical is built around classic rock hits from the 1980s, and features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister Poison and Asia.

According the site, Cruise has been asked to play a bartender, a character who would get the chance to rock out to those 80’s heavy metal hits. Wonder if Cruise’s turn as cocky, womanising bartender Bryan Flannigan in 80’s cheese-fest Cocktail encouraged New Line to put the call out?

Whatever the reason, he’s an interesting choice and given his current career downturn, I’m sure the chance to do something different (and in a relatively non-risky supporting role in what will be a big ensemble) is very tempting.

Some more casting news reaching us from Variety.com that the wonderfully named “Mad Men” star January Jones has joined Nicolas Cage in the bizarrely named “The Hungry Rabbit Jumps”.

Being directed by Roger Donaldson, he who directed Cocktail and the Bank job at both ends of his career, and having the current hit and mostly miss Cage on board I’m feeling it’s heading for averageness already but time will tell.

Produced by Tobey Maguire, James Stern and Ram Bergman the film is based on Nicolas cages character who after a crime is committed on his wife he enlists a vigilante group to help him settle the score with devastating consequences as he will owe them a favour in return.

An interesting sounding film that has all the potential for Cage to overplay, but possibly this is the one we’ve all been waiting for from Cage. Fingers crossed.