Lifetime Sets ‘Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B’ for Nov. 15 Premiere

Alexandra Shipp as Aaliyah in ‘Aaliyah Princess of R&B’ (2014) [Photo via Lifetime]

Based on the bestseller Aaliyah: More Than a Woman by former Time Magazine music editor Christopher John Farley , the film follows the late singer from her Star Search debut at age 10, to her rise to fame and tragic death in a 2001 plane crash.

The lead will be played by actress Alexandra Shipp , who took over the role after Zendaya Coleman dropped out for moral reasons .

Along with protests from fans , Jomo Hankerson , the singer’s cousin and president of her label Blackground Records, also spoke out against the film.

“It’s never been about the actress. The problem that we have is that Aaliyah was an icon and she deserves an iconic tribute, not a Lifetime movie,” he said. “We want a major studio release along the lines of ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It,’ the Tina Turner movie… This needs A-list actors, A-list talent that can breathe life into what we think is a phenomenal story.”

Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B also stars Rachael Crawford and Sterling Jarvis as Aaliyah’s parents Diane and Mike Haughton , A.J. Saudin as Aaliyah’s brother Rashad Haughton , Lyriq Bent as her uncle and music manager Barry Hankerson , Anthony Grant as Damon Dash , Izaak Smith as Timbaland ; Elise Neal as Gladys Knight ; and Chattrisse Dolabaille as Missy Elliot .

Directed by Bradley Walsh and adapted for screen by Michael Elliot , the two-hour television feature is produced by Aaliyah Productions, Inc .

Howard Braunstein, Debra Martin Chase and Wendy Williams serve as executive producers, while Steve Solomos serves as producer.

The premiere will take place on Saturday, November 15, at 8pm ET/PT. Will you tune in?

[via shadowandact ]

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