Shipp will star as Aaliyah in the Lifetime project titled Aaliyah: Princess of R&B, THR confirms.
The Nickelodeon actress has boarded the project following Wendy Williams, who will serve as an executive producer. The news broke Friday via Twitter.
Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman was originally cast for the lead but exited the film in June. Coleman would have recorded four of the songs that would have appeared in the movie.
“We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold,” Lifetime wrote in a statement posted on its Twitter account on June 29.
Filming is said to resume this summer with a fall premiere date planned. The script for the show is based on Christopher Farley’s book titled Aaliyah: More Than a Woman.
In addition to Williams, Howard Braunstein (The Informant!) and Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries) are also serving as executive producers. Bradley Walsh (Turn the Beat Around) will direct from a script written by Michael Elliot (Brown Sugar). Aaliyah Productions Inc., will produce the project.