Aaliyah Haughton — better known as Aaliyah — was the multitalented Brooklyn native who paved the way for superstars like Beyoncé and Rihanna. By the time she boarded a chartered aircraft back to the U.S. after a 2001 Bahamian video shoot, the 22-year-old stunner was a platinum-selling recording artist beginning to make a splash in feature films.
And when the dual-engine plane plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff, killing everyone aboard, one of entertainment’s most promising stars was extinguished.
Now Lifetime will chronicle Aaliyah’s journey — from her debut on Star Search at age 10 through the personal and professional controversies that surrounded her as she rose to fame — in the biographical film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B.
Starring Alexandra Shipp (who replaced Disney star Zendaya in the title role), the film is based on the bestseller Aaliyah: More Than a Woman by former Time magazine music editor Christopher John Farley, and also features Elise Neal (The Hughleys) as soul legend Gladys Knight, who brought Aaliyah to the Las Vegas stage at age 11; Anthony Grant (Rookie Blue) as music impresario Damon Dash, who was dating Aaliyah at the time of her death; and Izaak Smith (Mirror, Mirror) as record producer Timbaland.
What do you say, Aaliyah fans? Are you excited to watch the film? Is it too long overdue? What about the casting? Let us know in the comments section below.
Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B > Lifetime > Nov. 15 at 8/7CT