Zendaya Coleman may not get to play her dream role after all. Just days after Lifetime announced that they had cast the Disney star for their Angela Bassett-produced Aaliyah biopic, Aaliyah’s family put their foot down claiming that they have been kept out of the loop entirely and in return, plan to stop production.
According to TMZ,
“Aaliyah’s uncle and former manager, Barry Hankerson, tells us the family is pissed that no one from the network contacted them about the movie.
Hankerson says the family will block any attempt on Lifetime’s part to use any of Aaliyah’s music. He says the family has hired a lawyer and will do everything they can to block release of the flick.”
As previously reported, while the “Rock the Boat” singer’s family thinks a TV movie is too small for their baby girl, they are not opposed to her life being told on the big screen. Could this be the real reason behind all the fuss?
As for Lifetime, they plan to move forward with filming this summer, chronicling the late R&B singer’s life until her tragic death in 2001. Coleman, 17, will portray Aaliyah in the self-titled biopic.
Let’s take a look back at those Coleman was rumored to beat out for the coveted role. –ruthie hawkins/@ruubabie
