Zendaya Cast to Play Aaliyah in Lifetime Biopic

The ideas and plans for an official Aaliyah biopic have been floating around for years, but now thirteen years since the R&B icon’s death, Lifetime has announced plans for a biopic starring Zendaya Coleman.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Disney Channel star will play the late singer in the tentatively titled Aaliyah: Princess of R&B.

The film is based off of Christopher Farley’s best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. It is being produced by Aaliyah Productions Inc., with Howard Braunstein (The Informant!) and Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries) serving as executive producers. Bradley Walsh (Turn the Beat Around) will direct from a script written by Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar).

The 17-year-old actress-singer, who starred on Disney’s “Shake It Up,” will be able to draw from her musical background. She released her self-titled debut in 2013 and has appeared on “Dancing With the Stars.”

“She’s been an inspiration and influence in my whole career, her talent still shines brighter then ever, all I wanna do is honor her,” tweeted Zendaya.

“Show how much she accomplished in only 22 years….she’s beautiful inside and there will never be another Aaliyah, I just hope to share her beautiful story, and make her proud up in heaven.”

Lifetime is also developing a Whitney Houston biopic directed by Angela Bassett and starring Yaya DaCosta.

Zendaya Cast to Play Aaliyah in Lifetime Biopic

The ideas and plans for an official Aaliyah biopic have been floating around for years, but now thirteen years since the R&B icon’s death, Lifetime has announced plans for a biopic starring Zendaya Coleman.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Disney Channel star will play the late singer in the tentatively titled Aaliyah: Princess of R&B.

The film is based off of Christopher Farley’s best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. It is being produced by Aaliyah Productions Inc., with Howard Braunstein (The Informant!) and Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries) serving as executive producers. Bradley Walsh (Turn the Beat Around) will direct from a script written by Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar).

The 17-year-old actress-singer, who starred on Disney’s “Shake It Up,” will be able to draw from her musical background. She released her self-titled debut in 2013 and has appeared on “Dancing With the Stars.”

“She’s been an inspiration and influence in my whole career, her talent still shines brighter then ever, all I wanna do is honor her,” tweeted Zendaya.

“Show how much she accomplished in only 22 years….she’s beautiful inside and there will never be another Aaliyah, I just hope to share her beautiful story, and make her proud up in heaven.”

Lifetime is also developing a Whitney Houston biopic directed by Angela Bassett and starring Yaya DaCosta.

Usher Prepares To Play Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard In New Biopic

Usher Raymond is branching out from his usual singing and dancing to star in his first leading role as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming film Hands of Stone.

The Grammy Award winner recently caught up with the Huffington Post to discuss his excitement and preparation for the role.

“I’m up for the challenge, and I’m looking forward to it. I think my overall feeling is one of anticipation. It seems like this is a real passion project. It’s a film that everybody is so invested in, and I have the good fortune of having the character I’m playing still around,” he said. “He had such incredible discipline, and he was flashy and classy at the same time. I want to be as passionate and dedicated in preparing for this role as he was every time he stepped into the ring.”

He went on to say that his dancing skills are helping him learn his way around the ring.

“You couldn’t find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard. He was an incredible motion guy, the way he moved around the ring, and I think my dancing will make it easier for me to pick up his moves,” he said. 

“I’ve been working on familiarizing myself with the ring, sparring and just understanding how to move in the ring.”

The film, which is currently in pre-production, will be shot in Panama and centered around the 1980 fight between Sugar Ray and Roberto Duran.

Usher Prepares To Play Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard In New Biopic

Usher Raymond is branching out from his usual singing and dancing to star in his first leading role as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming film Hands of Stone.

The Grammy Award winner recently caught up with the Huffington Post to discuss his excitement and preparation for the role.

“I’m up for the challenge, and I’m looking forward to it. I think my overall feeling is one of anticipation. It seems like this is a real passion project. It’s a film that everybody is so invested in, and I have the good fortune of having the character I’m playing still around,” he said. “He had such incredible discipline, and he was flashy and classy at the same time. I want to be as passionate and dedicated in preparing for this role as he was every time he stepped into the ring.”

He went on to say that his dancing skills are helping him learn his way around the ring.

“You couldn’t find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard. He was an incredible motion guy, the way he moved around the ring, and I think my dancing will make it easier for me to pick up his moves,” he said. 

“I’ve been working on familiarizing myself with the ring, sparring and just understanding how to move in the ring.”

The film, which is currently in pre-production, will be shot in Panama and centered around the 1980 fight between Sugar Ray and Roberto Duran.