Photo: Picture Perfect/Rex USA. Aaliyah: Princess of R&B is in need of a new leading lady.
Just two weeks after word first broke that Zendaya was set to play the late singer in a Lifetime biopic, the 17-year-old Disney star has announced that she's pulling out of the project.
"I just felt the project wasn’t 100% there," the actress told MTV News of the film, which has prompted outrage from Aaliyah's family. "I feel [that] production-wise everything just felt a little rushed. And, I think because she’s someone I admire and I love so much, 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."
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Speaking from the red carpet at the BET Awards last night, Zendaya added that she'd be open to playing Aaliyah should a better project surface.
"By all means, when the right project comes along, and it’s done the right way, I’ll be the first person ready to play Aaliyah, but this wasn’t the right one for me," she said. "I’ve been into Aaliyah since I was little, so there wasn’t too much getting into character. I always pretend I’m her anyway.”
According to Lifetime, production for the made-for-TV movie is currently on hold. In addition to the threat of legal action by Aaliyah's family, the production also had trouble securing rights to the R&B star's music, E! News reports.
Is it time to call it quits? Or, is Lifetime planning to pick itself up and try again (try again)? (Dazed)
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