Congratulations are in order for Zendaya, who bagged the big role of Aaliyah in the late singer’s upcoming biopic.

The 17-year-old will have big shoes to fill in the film that’s set to premiere on Lifetime later in the year. The biopic has been highly anticipated since it was first rumored to be in the making last year. The production will honor actress and R&B singer Aaliyah, who tragically died in a plane crash in 2001 at the age of 22.

Aaliyah’s uncle, Barry Hankerson officially spilled the news this past September when he tweeted that a biopic is on the way. There were lots of guesses as to who would be the leading lady, but according to Variety, singer/actress Zendaya has officially landed the coveted role.

The young star isn't new to either acting or singing -- she gained her footing on the Disney Channel's TV series 'Shake It Up!', and in 2013 released her debut studio album, which produced the radio hit 'Replay.' The budding celeb will record four of Aaliyah’s songs for the biopic, ‘Aaliyah: Princess of R&B,’ and will begin filming this summer. If all goes according to schedule, we’ll be watching Zendaya show off her acting chops by the fall.

What do you think, PopCrushers and Zendaya fans -- are you excited to see her portray the R&B icon?

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