Aaliyah biopic in the works at Lifetime

LOS ANGELES, June 16 (UPI) -- Lifetime wants to tell the story of R&B superstar and actress Aaliyah, who was only 22 years old when she died in a 2001 plane crash.

The cable network has already cast its leading lady, Zendaya, the star of the Disney Channel's Shake It Up and singer of hit 2013 single, "Replay," which topped out at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The teleplay, titled Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B, is based on Christopher John Farley's biography, Aaliyah: More Than A Woman, which followed the Detroit native's rise to fame.

"She's been an inspiration and influence in my whole career, her talent still shines brighter then ever, all I wanna do is honor her [and] show how much she accomplished in only 22 years," Coleman said of Aaliyah on Monday.

"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," she said.

"I'm just a 17 year old girl who got cast to play one of her biggest inspirations #positive," Coleman added later.