After all of the controversy surrounding the casting choice, Zendaya will not be playing Aaliyah in the upcoming Lifetime biopic Aaliyah: Princess of R&B.
Her reps told E! News exclusively that “Zendaya is no longer involved in the project.”
A source told E! News that there were production issues, including problems obtaining the rights to Aaliyah’s music. The R&B star and Queen of the Damned actress died at age 22 in a plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001.
“Aaliyah has always been an inspiration to Zendaya,” the source said. “She was honored to portray her and pay tribute to her. If she is going to do it, she wants to do it right.”
Lifetime had said that the tentative title of the movie was Aaliyah: Princess of R&B and that the biopic will be based off of Christopher Farley’s best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. The project was set to begin filming in the summer and air this fall.
The movie depicts Aaliya’s life and career, from her debut on Star Search to her rise to fame and, finally, her tragic passing, which shocked the world. Scores of fans pay tribute to her online, especially on Twitter, on the anniversary of her death.
With Zendaya out of the picture and fan-favorite Keshia Chante not wanting to do it, who do you think Lifetime will get to take Zendaya’s place?
Should they just cancel the film?
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