Zendaya Drops Out of Lifetime’s Aaliyah Biopic, Project Put on Hold

Zendaya Coleman has dropped out of Lifteime's planned biopic of the late R&B singer Aaliyah, the network announced Sunday.

"We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold," Lifetime's public relations team tweeted. There's no word on who may replace Coleman in the central role.

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The 17-year-old Disney star was set to record four songs for the soundtrack as well as star in the film, titled Aaliyah: Princess of R&B. The movie wasslated to start production this summer for a fall premiere.

According to E! News, part of the reason Coleman dropped out of the project was because of trouble obtaining the rights to Aaliyah's music. The late singer's label, Blackground Records, controls the masters to her recordings and is run by her cousin, Jomo Hankerson. Aaliyah's family immediately came out against the Lifetime project after it was announced last week.

Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001 when she was 22.

Are you disappointed Zendaya dropped out? Who would you cast in the role?

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