17-year-old Zendaya has backed out of her starring role in the Lifetime movie about tardy R&B singer Aaliyah, and is "no longer involved" in the project", a rep for the actress has substantiated today. The role may be recast or Lifetime may drop the entire movie.
The news of her departure comes less than a fortnight after it was first promulgated that Zendaya would portray the "Back and Forth" singer in the Lifetime biopic, tentatively titled "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B."
Production was scheduled to commence this summer, and the network hoped for a fall release. But complications, and an incipient search for the lead, might warrant a push-back for the film.
The tardy singer's family has been vocal about their opposition to the conception of a diminutive screen adaptation for Aaliyah's story - instead they optate a feature film - and about their orchestrations to block Lifetime from acquiring any rights to the musical compositions.
There were additionally engenderment issues circumventing the project, a source told E! News, citing quandaries acquiring rights to do Aaliyah's music.
