Zendaya to Play Late Singer Aaliyah in Lifetime Biopic

Zendaya to Play Late Singer Aaliyah in Lifetime Biopic

Lifetime has announced Monday, June 16, that Disney singer-actress Zendaya will portray late recording artist Aaliyah in a new made-for-TV biographical movie chronicling the life of the Grammy-nominated R&B idol who died in a plane crash at the age of 22 in 2001.

The biopic, which has a working title of “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B,” is based on the bestselling book “Aaliyah: More Than a Woman” written by ex-Time Magazine music editor Christopher Farley, according to Variety. It’ll tell the singer’s life and death, highlighting how she rose to fame following her debut on the television show “Star Search.”

According to Lifetime, the film “follows the beautiful and talented performer’s inspirational journey, from her debut on Star Search at the chronilogical age of 10 to the challenges she faced during her rise being the princess of R&B. On Aug. 25, 2001, at the height of her popularity, her life was tragically cut short when a plane carrying the singer and some of her video crew crashed after takeoff from a Bahamian runway.” Read more…