Aaliyah Film Shelved as Zendaya Coleman Drops Out
by Shannon KeirnanA major setback in the "Aaliyah" biopic, as its star drops out.
Disney channel star Zendaya Coleman has left the Lifetime project. Coleman states her reasons for leaving as a "rushed" film schedule.
"I just felt the project wasn't 100% there... it can't be done halfway, or not to the standards I think it should be done at, so I just decided not to do it."
She adds that, as a huge fan of the late singer, while she would love to still play her, "this wasn't the one one for me."
She's not the only one who believes that. After Coleman was cast there was major backlash from fans. Was there more pressure to leave the project than just a hurried production?
Many also disagreed with Lifetime stepping in as the medium to tell the R & B singer's story. Family members have been vocal that Aaliyah's story deserves big screen telling, with "A-List stars" bringing her success to life.
Aaliyah was killed with 8 others in a plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001, after filming the music video for "Rock the Boat." Their unlicensed pilot had traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system. Her death came at the height of her fame, as the 22-year-old had sold 52 million records worldwide, making her Billboard's 10th most successful female R & B artist in the past 25 years, and the 27th most successful R & B artist in history.
She even proved multi-talented, making a major film appearance as Akasha in "Queen of the Damned."
So far, Lifetime has not commented on whether or not it plans to continue production of the biopic, entitled "Aaliyah: More Than a Woman."