Aaliyah Biopic Adds Missy Elliott and Timbaland Roles: Report

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With the Aaliyah role finally locked into place for the upcoming Lifetime biopic about the singer, more pivotal roles are reportedly being revealed. 

 

According to The Wrap, Chattrisse Dolabaille and Izaak Smith have been cast as Aaliyah's collaborators Missy Elliott and Timbaland. The rapper/producers worked closely with the star on her album “One In A Million,†released in 1996. They also worked with her on her 2001 self-titled release, the same year she died at the age of 22 in a plane crash. 

 

A rep for Lifetime had not returned Billboard's request for comment by press time. Dolabaille did confirm the casting by retweeting several floating reports about her part in the film.

 

Up until now, Dolabaille has a relatively small acting resume. While Smith previously appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,†as well as “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief†and “Mirror Mirror."

 

The news of Dolabaille and Smith's casting comes just weeks after Alexandra Shipp was confirmed to replace Disney star Zendaya Coleman in the lead role in Lifetime's flick, tentatively titled "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B." 

 

The project will reportedly resume filming this summer, with a fall premiere date planned. The script for the biopic was based on a book "Aaliyah: More Than a Woman," by Christopher Farley. 

 

While the project has been met with some skepticism from Aaliyah's family and fans, the film's executive producer Debra Martin Chase told Billboard that the flick will "honor the legacy" of the chart-topping singer.