Update: Lifetime says Aaliyah film will proceed

Lifetime has told TBI that its Aaliyah: Princess of R&B TV movie will go ahead as planned.

The family of the R&B star, who died in a plane crash in 2001, said earlier this week that they are not behind the project and one of the singer’s uncles and a former manager reportedly said they will were bringing in lawyers to shut down the show.

A Lifetime rep told TBI that filming on the original TV movie will proceed as planned, this summer. The TV movie is currently scheduled to bow in Lifetime’s fall schedule.

It is being produced by Aaliyah Productions. It is not clear whether members of Aaliyah’s family or former business associates are involved in the prodco and Lifetime would not comment on the prodco’s management or backers.

Lifetime has fared well with biopic TV movies including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton show Liz & Dick. As well as the Aaliyah movie, it has also announced another project focussing on the life of Whitney Houston.