FIRST LOOK! New trailer shows Disney darling Alexandra Shipp transforming into R&B icon Aaliyah in new Lifetime biopic
The official trailer for Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B has finally been released.
But rather frustratingly, producers have not included any snippets from the film to show rising star Alexandra Shipp in action as the late singer, who tragically died in a plane crash when she was just 22-years-old.
Fortunately for fans though, the 16-second clip does feature the 23-year-old actress pulling off a few of Aaliyah's signature dance moves.
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It's finally here: The official trailer of Lifetime's Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, starring Alexandra Shipp, has been released
Dressed in Timberland boots, camouflage combat trousers, a cropped top and denim jacket, the former Disney darling appears to have nailed the icon’s style down to a tee.
For her role, Alexandra ironed out her trademark curly hair into sleek long raven locks, giving her a striking resemblance to Aaliyah.
No doubt the comparison may have played some part in the young star replacing actress Zendaya, who was originally cast to play the lead role.
The 18-year-old suddenly dropped out of the project just weeks before filming commenced after fans complained that she didn't look like Aaliyah.
Striking resembalance: After a serious makeover, the 23-year-old looked almost identicla to Aaliyah
Nice work: In the 16-second teaser, the young actress can be seen mimicking a few of the late singer's signature dance moves
Makeover: Alexandra ironed out her trademark curly hair into sleek raven locks to play the late singer
However, her father/bodyguard Kazembe Ajamu insisted race had nothing to do with her decision - which placed the production 'on hold' for a short time.
Just weeks later though, it was then announced by US talk show host Wendy Williams that Alexandra would be taking over her role.
After news broke that she was being replaced, Zendaya opened up to her fans via Instagram with a video addressing the issue.
She said: 'The main reasons were 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…
Identical: The film's wardrobe team appear to have naileded Aaliyah's street wear style down to a tee
Not long now: The highly-anticipated Lifetime film is set to premiere on November 15
'And I tried my best to reach out to the family on my own, and I wrote a letter, but I was unable to do so therefore I felt not really morally okay with moving forward with the project.'
According to TMZ, Aaliyah’s family members really aren’t happy with the biopic and allegedly suggested the production values should be bigger and the actors more high-profile.
The late singer's uncle and former manager Barry Hankerson told the website that the family were in fact so 'p****d off' that they have hired a lawyer to try and prevent the film from being released and were even attempting to block any of Aaliyah's music from being used.
But sadly for the family, filming is now complete and the movie is set to premiere on November 15 on Lifetime.
Tragic: Aaliyah died when she was just 22-years-old in a plane crash while flying to the Bahamas
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2772405/FIRST-LOOK-New-trailer-shows-Disney-darling-Alexandra-Shipp-transforming-R-B-icon-Aaliyah-new-Lifetime-biopic.html#ixzz3EdJvtHRe
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