Lifetime’s Aaliyah biopic is officially back in business, and it emerges with a new actress in the starring role.
The film’s executive producer Wendy Williams revealed Friday that Alexandra Shipp will star as the late Aaliyah in its upcoming TV movie “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B.” Lifetime later confirmed the report.
“I’m excited to exec produce the Aaliyah @lifetimetv movie w/ @DebraMChase. Prod starts later this month and @AlexShipppp will play Aaliyah,” Tweeted Williams.
Best known for her work in “House of Anubis,” the 23-year-old Shipp assumes the role vacated by teen actress-singer Zendaya earlier this summer.
In conjunction with the news, Lifetime issued three publicity photos of Shipp in the Aaliyah role (click the thumbnails to access larger, high-resolution images):