( CNN ) -- One of the Disney stars is set to play the late singer Aaliyah in an upcoming television movie . Variety reports that Zendaya has been cast as the singer in a Lifetime movie to be based on the book `` Aaliyah : More Than a Woman '' by former Time magazine music editor Christopher Farley . The singer , born Aaliyah Dana Haughton , died in a 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas , along with the pilot and members of her video crew . She was 22 . Zendaya , who like the late singer also performs using just her first name , is well-known for co-starring on the Disney Network series `` Shake it Up ! '' and appeared as a contestant on `` Dancing With the Stars '' in 2013 . The 17-year old , who will reportedly record four songs for the project , tweeted her excitement . `` She 's been an inspiration and influence in my whole career , her talent still shines brighter ( than ) ever , all I wan na do is honor her , '' the Disney star tweeted about being cast . `` 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 # babygirl # forever # OneInAMillion . '' Aaliyah was known to friends and fans as `` Baby Girl . '' `` One in a Million '' was one of her hit songs . Not everyone appears thrilled with the casting of the teenager , whose full name is Zendaya Coleman . One fan tweeted , `` I 'm a huge Aaliyah fan . I do NOT want Zendaya Coleman playing Aaliyah in a upcoming movie , '' while another said , `` Zendaya does n't even resemble aaliyah what is this foolishness . '' TheYBF.com spoke with the film 's casting director , Twinkie Byrd , about some of the fans ' complaints , including a concern that a biracial actress should not be playing the African-American singer . According to her bio on IMDB.com Coleman 's father is African-American , and her mother is of German , Irish and English ancestry . `` Zendaya embodies everything you want in a actress to play Aaliyah , '' the site quotes him as saying . `` She is a poised , professional , strong actress ( studied at California Shakespeare Theater and American Conservatory Theater ) . A triple threat actor , singer dancer . She loves Aaliyah and will do a wonderful job ! She is of mixed ethnicity . Her name is Bantu ( Zimbabwe ) meaning 'To Give Thanks . ' Let 's not hate on it but congratulate ! She is a great choice ! ''
She will play the late singer in a Lifetime movie , report CNN . She was also a contestant on ` ` Dancing With the Stars '' But some Aaliyah fans are not pleased by her casting .