FINISHED BEFORE IT STARTED: Zendaya is no longer doing the Aliyah film, satisfying both fans and the late star's family
buzzz worthy. . .
Zendaya Coleman won't be playing her favorite female singer Aliyah in the movie about her life after all.
Lifetime announced via their Twitter page on Sunday (June 29) that the Disney star won't move forward with the Debra Martin Chase (Princess Diaries, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Courage Under Fire) produced biopic. Production on the film has been completely halted. It appears that a combination of fan and family disgruntlement and other major factors, such as not being able to obtain the rights to the late star's music led to the actress's and the network's decision.
At the BET Awards which aired on the same night, Coleman rocked a street chic style that looked as if she was attempting to evoke Aliayah, but she did not mention the film. Now we know why.
Since the mid-June announcement of Coleman's casting there had been chatter about whether she was a good fit for the role, from complaints that Coleman, 17 could not pull off the character to claims that sh was not "black enough." The young actress handled her critics with humility in and Associated Press article saying she simply wanted the role to pay tribute to one of her idols.
"I really want it to be perfect for her and show young people what she was able to do and what she accomplished. I can't please everybody ... what I can do is work really hard and you know, just continue to show her legacy. I feel like she grew up so young and she grew up in the industry ... and she just had to deal with so much. I connect with that."
But she wanted to do it right.
In an MTV interview following news of her departure from the project, Zendaya gives the impression that she declined the opportunity because the film would not have done justice to Aliyah's memory. She said the project still a lot of loose ends and that she would still be open to taking on the role in the future.
Another hang up with the biopic was that the network did not confer with Aliyah's family about their casting decision in addition to the fact that they wanted their loved one represented on the big screen:
Aliyah, an R&B star died at age 22 in a plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001 following the production of her final video, "Rock the Boat."
 |
| Zendaya Coleman (hot Credit: BET Networks) |
Zendaya Coleman won't be playing her favorite female singer Aliyah in the movie about her life after all.
Lifetime announced via their Twitter page on Sunday (June 29) that the Disney star won't move forward with the Debra Martin Chase (Princess Diaries, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Courage Under Fire) produced biopic. Production on the film has been completely halted. It appears that a combination of fan and family disgruntlement and other major factors, such as not being able to obtain the rights to the late star's music led to the actress's and the network's decision.
At the BET Awards which aired on the same night, Coleman rocked a street chic style that looked as if she was attempting to evoke Aliayah, but she did not mention the film. Now we know why.
Since the mid-June announcement of Coleman's casting there had been chatter about whether she was a good fit for the role, from complaints that Coleman, 17 could not pull off the character to claims that sh was not "black enough." The young actress handled her critics with humility in and Associated Press article saying she simply wanted the role to pay tribute to one of her idols.
"I really want it to be perfect for her and show young people what she was able to do and what she accomplished. I can't please everybody ... what I can do is work really hard and you know, just continue to show her legacy. I feel like she grew up so young and she grew up in the industry ... and she just had to deal with so much. I connect with that."
But she wanted to do it right.
In an MTV interview following news of her departure from the project, Zendaya gives the impression that she declined the opportunity because the film would not have done justice to Aliyah's memory. She said the project still a lot of loose ends and that she would still be open to taking on the role in the future.
Another hang up with the biopic was that the network did not confer with Aliyah's family about their casting decision in addition to the fact that they wanted their loved one represented on the big screen:
On behalf of the entire family, Aaliyah's uncle and former manager Barry Hankerson released a statement yesterday (June 20), urging fans to bombard Lifetime Network with calls and letters to stop the film's production.
The statement reads:
"Aaliyah was more than a singer, she was -and is still – an American music icon whose legacy continues to live on and influence today’s music culture, just as Ray Charles, Notorious B.I.G., Selena and Johnny Cash.
Considering the magnitude of her fans’ affection alone, she deserves to have a tribute much more grand than a television network debut that won’t even consider the perspectives of those who were closest to Aaliyah.
Disregarding the families and dishonoring the legacies of celebrated figures who have passed on, big networks want to exploit their stories for a buck. We’re here to make it clear that it’s not okay!
Lifetime Television is trying to dictate the status of our heroes, our heroines and – in this case – our beloved Aaliyah. We implore everyone to call Lifetime Television, send emails and bombard social media so they know we demand respect for our cultural icons.
We will not sit idly by while they misrepresent and reap profits from our luminaries. There is more at stake than the public could imagine."
Aliyah, an R&B star died at age 22 in a plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001 following the production of her final video, "Rock the Boat."