Zendaya, who faced criticism for being chosen of the lead role of Aaliyah in planned biopic has dropped out of filming, according to reports.
The Disney Channel star and singer will not play the deceased singer in the planned Lifetime Television movie a rep for the actress told E! News Sunday, June 29.
“Zendaya is no longer involved in the project,” the rep said.
E! News reports that “there were production issues, including problems obtaining the rights to Aaliyah’s music.” The R&B star who had a string of hits in the early 200s and starred in movies including “Queen of the Damned” died at age 22 in a plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001.
“Aaliyah has always been an inspiration to Zendaya,” a source told E! News. “She was honored to portray her and pay tribute to her. If she is going to do it, she wants to do it right.”
The script for “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B,” the tentative title of the film, is reportedly based on Christopher Farley’s best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. The project  was set to begin filming in the summer and air this fall.