Alexandra Shipp to play Aaliyah in biopic
Actress replaces former Disney star Zendaya who pulled out of the Lifetime movie
Alexandra Shipp has very little time to get ready for her new role as the late R&B singer Aaliyah.
Lifetime spokeswoman Kannie Yu LaPack confirmed on Friday that Shipp will play the singer, who died in a plane crash in 2001. Shipp replaces Zendaya in the Lifetime biopic Aaliyah: Princess of R&B. Zendaya pulled out of production last month.
The project was briefly halted, but filming will start later this month, leaving the 23-year-old Shipp little time to prep. She has played roles on Nick show House of Anubis and the movie Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
The biopic will be released this fall and will follow the multi platinum-selling R&B star’s career from 10-year-old Star Search contestant to her death in a plane crash in the Bahamas at age 22.
