Cyrus Langhorne
Weeks after actress Zendaya decided to fall back from portraying late singer Aaliyah in an upcoming film, new reports claim Hollywood diva Alexandra Shipp has signed on. #ontothenextone
New details of network Lifetime’s latest addition to the previously scrapped movie surfaced Friday (July 18).
Lifetime is back in business with its Aaliyah biopic. Nickelodeon actress Alexandra Shipp has been tapped to play the R&B singer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Wendy Williams, who has boarded the TV movie as an executive producer, first announced the news Friday on Twitter. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Recent reports claimed potential legal problems including copyright issues may have stalled the film’s production.
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.” (E! Online)
Public protest from Aaliyah’s family reportedly contributed to Zendaya’s decision.
Zendaya’s rep says she’s no longer involved with the project … and sources close to the production say a whole bunch of factors played a part including the negative reaction from Aaliyah’s family. For now, Lifetime says production has been put on hold. (TMZ)
Reports last month revealed the film would be based off a best-selling biography.
This film, tentatively titled Aaliyah: Princess of R&B, will be based off of Christopher Farley‘s best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. The film is being produced by Aaliyah Productions Inc., with Howard Braunstein (The Informant!) and Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries) serving as executive producers. Bradley Walsh (Turn the Beat Around) will direct from a script written by Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar). (The Hollywood Reporter)
