Lifetime’s Aaliyah biopic is moving forward with full force as its found actors to portray Missy Elliott and Timbaland.
A network representative confirmed with TheWrap that newcomers Chattrisse Dolabaille and Izaak Smith have been cast in the film starring Alexandra Shipp. They will play the producers-rappers in the Wendy Williams-produced film.
Missy Elliott and Timbaland assisted in creating the singer’s second album, One In A Million, which sold 3.7 million copies domestically and more that eight million copies worldwide. Aaliyah’s musical mentors have no involvement in the Lifetime project or the upcoming feature film.
Dolabaille is a newbie from Cananda who sings, acts and dances while Smith is a bit more seasoned, appearing on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,” Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Mirror Mirror.
Additionally, Rachael Crawford and Sterling Jarvis have been cast as Aaliyah’s parents Diane and Michael Haughton; Lyriq Bent will play her uncle and former manager Barry Hankerson; Anthony Grant will portray Dame Dash; and A.J. Saudin and Jesse Sukunda will play the older and younger version of Aaliyah’s brother Rashad, respectively.
Lifetime’s made-for-TV movie will take from writer Christopher Farley‘s 2001 book “Aaliyah: More Than a Woman.”
Photo courtesy of Chattrisse Dolabaille/YouTube, Isaak Smith/ IMDB/TheWrap
The film is slated for a fall premiere.