Source: THR

Kristen Bell has signed on to play Christina Aguilera's rival in Screen Gems' upcoming musical drama Burlesque. The film focuses on a small-town girl, Aguilera, with a big dreams and a big voice, who ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club.

Bell will play Nikki, the lead dancer and "main attraction at the club who spirals out of control when Aguilera's character suddenly gets the spotlight." The cast already includes Cher, as the nightclub owner, and Stanley Tucci, as the manager of the club who takes Aguilera's character under his wing. Shooting on Burlesque begins Nov. 9 with hopes of a Thanksgiving 2010 release date.

Most famous for her role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which earned $96.7 million worldwide, Bell can currently be seen starring alongside Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and Malin Akerman in Couples Retreat, which opens today.

Up next for the starlet is When in Rome, a Disney comedy set for release in January.