Lifetime is doubling down on its biopics about ill-fated songbirds.
The network, which recently announced that it is working on a movie about the life of singer Whitney Houston, is also planning a film about the life of actress and R&B sensation Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in 2001 at age 22.
Also read: Yaya DaCosta Cast as Whitney Houston in Lifetime TV Movie
“Replay” singer Zendaya has been tapped to play the chanteuse in the film, which bears the working title “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B” and is based on the bestselling book “Aaliyah: More Than a Woman” by former Time music editor Christopher Farley.
Zendaya will record four of Aaliyah’s songs for the film, Lifetime notes.
Also read: Lifetime Orders Series About Birthing Children in the Wild, 3 More New Shows
The film will be produced by Aaliyah Productions, Inc., with Howard Braunstein (“The Informant!”) and Debra Martin Chase (“Sparkle”) executive producing. Bradley Walsh (“Turn the Beat Around”) is directing, working from a script by Michael Elliot (“Brown Sugar”).