Relative newcomers Chattrisse Dolabaille and Izaak Smith have been cast as Missy Elliott and Timbaland respectively in the working titled “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B” — the network rep confirmed to The Wrap.
It’s well know that the collaborators were instrumental in shaping Aaliyah’s music — and their work on her biggest success, her sophomore album “One In A Million,” helped to catapult all of their careers to new heights.
To no surprise, the selections have been met with some backlash for obvious reasons. After Zendaya Coleman backed out of the role of Aaliyah, they found a replacement: Nickelodeon star Alexandra Shipp. One of the major ingredients the biopic needs is the support of Aaliyah’s family – a sole reason for Zendaya’s departure.
“I feel like if I’m going to portray one of my idols … it has to be done right,” she added. “It just wasn’t a good choice for me.”
I’m not going to throw any shade because they’re new comers, but this seems a little shaky. And perhaps I’m not the best judge. I’m completely against this biopic. Let’s just let Aaliyah rest in peace. Do we need to know everything about her life? Wasn’t her music enough?
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