We know it’s a Lifetime movie and all, but our excitement for the Aaliyah biopic reached epic heights just now when we saw the trailer, soundtracked by Iggy Azalea.
The trailer shows actress Alexandra Shipp looking remarkably Aaliyah-like (abs, Timberlands, baggy jeans, etc) and also moving remarkably like the R ’n’ B star who died when her private plane crashed in the Bahamas in 2001. She was 22.
Shipp was cast in the role after Disney actress Zendaya Coleman quit the project following much controversy, including lack of support for the movie from Aaliyah’s family. ‘The main reasons were that the production value wasn’t there, there were complications with the music rights, and I just felt like it wasn’t being handled delicately considering the situation,’ she said. Maybe that explains the Iggy Azalea song in the trailer?
Lifetime is known for creating unauthorised biopics, including many a film about Will and Kate.
The upcoming film will apparently include information about Aaliyah’s alleged 1994 marriage to R Kelly, when she was just 15 years old and he was 27. The supposed marriage has long been shrouded in mystery, and in later years, the singer denied it ever happened. Apparently, a marriage certificate showed it had taken place, but Aaliyah’s age was listed as 18. Her parents supposedly later had it annulled.
Chattrisse Dolabaille and Izaak Smith will play Missy Elliott and Timbaland, both of whom worked closely with the star.
Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B is based on the biography Aaliyah: More Than A Woman by Christopher Farley and will premiere in the US on 15 November.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.