( CNN ) -- Lifetime 's biopic of the late singer Aaliyah is now without a star . The network confirmed via Twitter on Sunday that Zendaya , the 17-year-old Disney actress and singer tapped to portray Aaliyah in the TV movie , has exited the project . `` We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah , '' Lifetime said . `` Production is currently on hold . '' It 's an abrupt change for the film , as Zendaya , whose full name is Zendaya Coleman , was just announced as the biopic 's lead on June 16 . The young star , known for her role on Disney 's `` Shake It Up ! '' and Season 16 of `` Dancing With the Stars , '' did n't release an official comment on her departure but did acknowledge the casting shakeup on Twitter by quoting a source 's statement to E ! News . `` Aaliyah has always been an inspiration to Zendaya , '' the source told E ! . `` She was honored to portray her and pay tribute to her . If she is going to do it , she wants to do it right . '' Aaliyah , born Aaliyah Dana Haughton , was killed in a 2001 plane crash at the age of 22 . Her legacy as an R & B/pop singer and actress has been immense , to the point that even using her voice in a song can make fans bristle . Zendaya 's casting was similarly controversial , with fans being divided over whether the burgeoning talent should take on the role . With news that she 's now out of the project , some are curious if the casting criticism played a role in her departure . Yet from the beginning , the teen star made it clear that Aaliyah has been a lifelong inspiration for her , and she told MTV News on the BET Awards red carpet that she was n't sure the biopic would do justice to her idol . `` I just felt the project was n't 100 % there , '' she told MTV , saying that the production felt `` a little rushed . '' Because `` she 's someone I admire and I love so much , it ca n't be done halfway , or not to the standards I think it should be done at , so I just decided not to do it . `` By all means , when the right project comes along and it 's done the right way , I 'll be the first person ready to play Aaliyah , but this was n't the right one for me . I 've been into Aaliyah since I was little , so there was n't too much getting into character . I always pretend I 'm her anyway . ''
Zendaya Coleman has left Lifetime 's Aaliyah biopic . The actress was set to play the role of Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash at age 19 on September 11, 2001. Production for the TV movie is currently on hold .