One broke records and color barriers worldwide with an unmatched voice and stage presence while the other danced stages alight with a style all her own. Both, were gone too soon.
As a testament to the staying power of their legacies (and the unfillable voids left in their wakes), their music and names are still spun side by side with today’s top divas. But, the ultimate ode to late pop/R&B divas Whitney Houston and Aaliyah may be coming in the form of long-awaited biopics.
As the “Queen of Biopics” Angela Bassett has been tapped to direct Whitney’s story for Lifetime, word has it Aaliyah’s is set for VH1.
Both, however, are coming soon. Very soon…
Scheduled for a 2015 world premiere under the working title of “Whitney Houston,” the pic chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer-songwriter Bobby Brown — from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage.
“I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments; and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” said Bassett in a statement.
According to reports, The Sanitsky Company-produced film was penned by Shem Bitterman and will air on Lifetime next year. As it stands, no word on who will play the characters.
*****
Blackground Records CEO/Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Hankerson set Twitter alight last Christmas when he unveiled the photo above with the caption:
“Merry Christmas #TeamAaliyah #VH1 “One in a million” The Aaliyah Story @VH1 sneak peek! Merry Christmas enjoy #2014,”
While there has been no word from VH1 to confirm or deny the movie, but has begun to rise again with hopes that the movie will indeed finally see light. The rumor’s flame was further fueled when actress Tristin Mays took to Instagram to say:
“Today, I can’t be upset that I didn’t book the role I worked so hard for. This may have been the most difficult, emotional, inspiring, and lengthy audition process I’ve ever experienced. Getting the chance to portray someone I’ve always loved and admired so much was a blessing every single step of the way. I invested every ounce of my body mind and soul into this process and I can honestly say I’m proud of myself. God definitely has something incredible in store for me. A huge thank you to everyone who believed in me and spoke up for me in the room. And a huge congratulations to everyone in the cast!#TheAaliyahStory.”
The post has since been deleted. No word on who landed the role of Aaliyah or supporting characters. The story hits the net just months after reports indicated Aaliyah’s family was strongly against any posthumous releases – movies or music.
Did the success of TLC’s biopic change their mind?
Your thoughts?
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Beyonce should audition to play Aaliyah… seeing that she wants to be just like her.
Mya maybe… Bey is too good to play BASIC-liyah.
LMAO YOU’RE KIDDING RIGHT?
THAT BASIC NON-ACTING BYTCH SLAVEONCE COULDN’T PLAY A PAPER BAG LOL
FLEAS AND THEIR DELUSIONS LMAO
THE QUEEN ALWAYS has your peasant ass pressed lmao. #THE QUEEN >>> your favs
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They better never consider rihfund to portray Whitney again!
You needa take to bitter ass on smwhr! Christina is a flop basic b**** now so you need to DEAL!
Xtina is a legend who your fav rih looks up to and she tried to do Xtina whole Dirrrty era with GGGB Bye!
Side-by_side pics
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1081920/thumbs/o-BEYONCE-AALIYAH-facebook.jpg
Mya maybe… Bey is too good to play Aliyah.
Bey isn’t pretty enough to play Aaliyah no shade
What???????? Both are drop dead gorgeous
Beyonce >>>>>>>>> Aaliyah in the looks department sorry…
Aaliyah looks better, and beyonce can’t act
Rihc*nt THE QUEEN was nominated for an Golden Globe before >>>>>>>>>>>> Rihoeanna nominated for an rasby. #DO THE MATH
They need someone who can act so Beyonce is out of the picture….was t even considered tbh!
The above comment was for u. #THE DUMBASS BITCHH
Hmmmmm …. I wonder who will be the lucky girls?
Why would anyone want Beyonce to play Aaliyah she can’t act.
Damn sho can’t!
Says an Basic Sh*t Perry Stan.
I haven’t heard Pills N potions yet. Is it good? I’m ready to be slayed by Miss Minaj again.
And yes @ Queen Whitney. The eternal queen! Aaliyah.. Well I’ve never really checked for her nor do I care. Bey > Aaliyah. I really think a chunk of her praised has to do with her death! I never really hear anyone talk about anything about besides the fact that she died in a plane crash. Not like Whitney who everyone would be like that BXTCH could SANGG! But whatever.
wow this is the second time i agree with you at least your not delusional
I agree.
Two of the most gorgeous women in history, Aaliyah was my crush during 1999-2000, i saw her outside TRL, so beautiful and humble, and Whitney, man, i always loved her, she remains the greatest woman in music to me, , i’m sorry but that woman was everything, the best.
*Chokes up* Damn you Blondie! <3
Wasn´t Madonna the greatest in your opinion? No shade, I know you really loved legendary Whitney Houston.
Chile, if they do a WHITNEY HOUSTON movie imma need it to be like 3 hours long. I want something on the level of “What’s Love Got To Do With it” & “The Temptation” or “The Jackson’s American Dream” type of movie. They need to break EVERY THING DOWN! Also, I would like it to debut on HBO or SHOWTIME. So, we can see everything Whitney Houston did behind the scenes. They better show all the getting high moments & crack smoking. Whitney Houston even said herself around “The Preachers Wife” time. She was getting high every single day! I also, wanna see when Bobby spit on her & Bobbi K. was just standing there. I wanna see when Nippy was locking herself in her bathroom for hours reading her BIBLE. All while, smoking crack. Imma need to see EVERYTHING…
It’s based on Whitney and Bobby’s relationship, not her career
Huh? They not gonna show her singing & receiving DIAMOND awards for selling over 100+ million records. They not gonna show stuff like how she would inner-act in the studio with producers. They need to start all the way as a child up until DEATH! Bye!
Actually, she has sold over 200mill
And yes, it is about from the point when she met Bobby up unto their divorce
Also, Aaliyah can have a cute lil VH1 movie. Her life is not that interesting or long enough to really call home about except for her molestation & plain accident. Also, her alleged slutty ways… Im here for it!
So disrespectful
I’m here for the Aaliyah movie and why would Beyoncé play Aaliyah?? They look nothing alike! Aaliyah was skinny and she was dark skinned!! And you at least know she had some long ass natural hair!
Dark skinned? You must be white or smthn cuz….CH… BYE!
What Aaliyah are you talking about?
I don’t wanna see that tired h** J-HUD playing Whitney though. Tired of them trying to make her the new Whitney!
Why would bey play Aaliyah she can’t act
Hey Navy Commander!!! 😉 <3
Hey boo
Beyonce can’t even play herself.
Coming for someone acting how’s Rihanna Razzie award looking on her shelf
H** STFU!
with great acting lessons solange can play aaliyah…….
Why would Beyonce play Aaliyah. One can sing, the other.. welp, u know.
LOL WHY WOULD THEY WANT SLAVEONCE TO PLAY ANYONE?
SHE COULDN’T PLAY A GARBAGE BAG IN THE CITY DUMP LOL
Speaking of the city dump. I think its safe to say that’s where Caca’s career is now kiii
I want the Aaliyah film to be as great and on point as the TLC film. I don’t know who Tristin Mays is, but not only is she’s not black, but look NOTHING like Aaliyah. The Whitney film will have to have deep dramma.
Oh and the WORLD knows that Aaliyah looks MILES better than Bey, hel Bey isn’t even on Rihanna’s level of hotness. Beyonce is known her her BODY, she always had an ten years older face. Sorry.
not accrodding to peoples magazine and askmen magazine
I don’t need a magazine to tell me what’s pretty, I have my own eyes. Those same eyes can also see that Beyonce looks like she’s in her 40’s. She ages bad, deal with it.
Rihanna without high fashion clothes and make up and without a bang or fringe = basic that girl Instagram pics shows it all that nose and forehead NOT it
Artist: Aaliyah > Beyonce
Dancer: Aaliyah > Beyonce
Actress: Aaliyah > Beyonce
Looks: Aaliyah > Beyonce
Style: Aaliyah > Beyonce
Sorry roaches, A comes before B.
just like how janet brandy monica mya and destinys child came before A right
The f*** are you talking about? Minus Janet, Aaliyah came and set the road for all those h*** you named. #Fact
LOL WRONG, STUPID.
MONICA, MYA AND DESTINY’S MAIDS CAME AFTER AALIYAH, BUG.
WHEN AALIYAH WAS ALIVE
brandy
7 top 10 hits
debut album 1994 sold 7m WW
second album 1998 16m
monica
8 top 10 hits
debut 1996 8.5m WW
second album 1998 8m ww
DC
7 top 10 hits
debut album sold 1996 5m ww
second album 1997 16 m WW
third album 2002 11 m WW
aaliyah
3 top 10 hit
debut album 1994 6m ww
seond album 1996 10m ww
last album only sold 1m and was diminishing until after her death her sale skyrocketed 47.1% and the following weeks sold 306k copies which was the albums highest selling weeks
face it aaliyah was not impacting the world like her fans claim and her sales were basic even mary j blige outsold her
all sources are from Nielsen SoundScan’ billboards chart history from articles published in 2002 and the riaa website
You need to do your research, cause those are wrong. At the TIME, A had two 2X plat albums, Monica only had two plat albums and Brandy had a 2X album and a 3X album. Aaliyah 3rd album went gold in a month and then she passed and went plat the week after her death. Billboard changed their rules a few times in the 90’s and so One in a Million, Hot like fire didn’t chart.
As many Hot 100 chart policies have been modified over the years, one rule always remained constant: songs were not eligible to enter the Hot 100 unless they were available to purchase as a single. However, on December 5, 1998 the Hot 100 changed from being a “singles” chart to a “songs” chart. During the 1990s, a growing trend in the music industry was to promote songs to radio without ever releasing them as singles. It was claimed by major record labels that singles were cannibalizing album sales, so they were slowly phased out. During this period, accusations began to fly of chart manipulation as labels would hold off on releasing a single until airplay was at its absolute peak, thus prompting a top ten or, in some cases, a number one debut. In many cases, a label would delete a single from its catalog after only one week, thus allowing the song to enter the Hot 100, make a high debut and then slowly decline in position as the one-time production of the retail single sold out.
It was during this period that several popular mainstream hits never charted on the Hot 100, or charted well after their airplay had declined. During the period that they were not released as singles the songs were not eligible to chart. Many of these songs dominated the Hot 100 Airplay chart for extended periods of time:
1995 The Rembrandts: “I’ll Be There For You” (number one for eight weeks)
1996 No Doubt: “Don’t Speak” (number one for 16 weeks)
1997 Sugar Ray featuring Super Cat: “Fly” (number one for six weeks)
1997 Will Smith: “Men in Black” (number one for four weeks)
1997 The Cardigans: “Lovefool” (number two for eight weeks)
1998 Natalie Imbruglia: “Torn” (number one for 11 weeks)
1998 Goo Goo Dolls: “Iris” (number one for 18 weeks)
As debate and conflicts occurred more and more often, Billboard finally answered the requests of music industry artists and insiders by including airplay-only singles (or “album cuts”) in the Hot 100.
save the excuse aaliyah WAS NOT out selling any of her peers when she was alive
brandy
monica
mary j blige
TLC
destiny child
all slayed the charts and albums
at the time A died her last album at stalled 447k and after she died her sale went almost 50% and the week after she died her album sold over 305k and it was her highest sales week and the album when from number 18 to number 1. as of right now it only sold 2.06 million copies. she only got popular after her death
I love how you skipped “Singer” and “Performer” . Haha.
Dense much? You Stan for a tramp with no talent whatsoever. So I doubt people will take your opinions seriously. Lmfaooo. Hilarious.
“You Stan for a tramp with no talent whatsoever”
Which one of its faves are you talking about? Aaliyah or Rih?
Doesn’t that fall under artistry? You stan for the biggest swagger jacker in the game, so run along and google originality.
SCREAMING!!!! AT MARK111 SCHOOLING THESE INSECTS LMAO
SAY IT AGAIN, A COMES BEFORE B B****** LOL
YOU BETTER WERK, MARK111 LMAO
Bitchhh THE QUEEN TRUMPS Aaliyah in EVERYTHING! A aliyah was Flopping like hell before she died. I bet u forgot that lmao
Monica overshipped her discography (love her tho)
and all this is true @musiclover Aaliyah was being outsold by brandy I’m not sure why ppl are revisionist historians
Brandy was a household name throughout the 90s aaliyah was a cute urban girl with nice songs
Sure, Beyonce can’t act, that’s why she got nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance in dream girls. Sure she can’t act.
But who won that Oscar? #Oops
First of all, I said Golden Globe, not Oscar.
Second, She got nominated for 2 Golden Globes because she can act, but you thought she was gonna win against Real full time actors? Ha! She wouldn’t even get nominated if she wasn’t a good actor, in the first place. Smart up.
Bye idiot.
Oscar > Golden Globe. And J Hud wasn’t a “full time actress” and won. Sorry that Beyonce has the acting chops of a tree.
Sure wasn’t Aaliyah lmfao
Hey Metzo!! 🙂
@metzo
Thats right, she can’t act. Good that you’ve accepted that fact
I saw this girl BSimone on youtube. She was the most convincing Aaliyah I have seen in awhile. I did think Keisha Chante at first, but now I don’t know.
Someone told me that DIGGER BEY is a renown power bottom in Atlanta. It provides its services mom’s basement.
Operating hours: 1:00pm – 12:30am (Monday to Friday)
3:00pm – 11:00pm (Saturday)
Blow jobs – $25
A*** s** – $75
Blow Job + a*** s** – $100
If y’all need to get off hit up Digger Bey right here on TGJ for a fun session. If clients bring a friend along they’ll be entitled to a 25% discount on all services as Digger Bey specializes in threesomes and Gangbangs.
Guys don’t be shy!! Digger Bey’s family is in food stamps, lives in government housing, and desperately needs some cash to send itself to its local community college. Support it please! This is a limited time offer.
Stupid bitchh you’re lame as fawk. That wasn’t even funny nor interesting. Continue to seeeeth and remain pressed by my presence. Lmfaooooo This H** talks about me more than that Lesser Bitchhh MooMoo lmaooo. #MY LOYAL STAN
The Elusive Chanteuse is #2 on iTunes South Africa.
Lawd! The reach, but I wish her all the best.
Don’t say you wish her the best when you really don’t! Lol. I know you’ll be the first to comment when the sales predictions are released. You hate Mariah but it’s okay… She is still the queen whether you like it or not.
Never said I hated her and I DO wish her the best cause the few songs I heard are really good.
FLOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP Else where!
Hi @Mark111
Gasp!
Romeo Must Die > Carmen: A Hip Hopera
Why is this going to lifetime? MTV or vh1 know that they could have picked it up
Have you heard Everytime by Britney Spears? It is amazing!!!
It’s amazing I can hear the emotion through the track I can tell she was going through it honney lmao
Slayriah what do you think the next single should be from ‘me. I am Slayriah’ ? I think faded should be because it’s a banger
OMG! I still haven’t heard the album. Its like the link doesn’t work in Canada! I’ve been trying! I’m #Thirsty to hear my queen! But I’ve heard a lot of positive things about “Heavenly”.
U tried using iTunes Radio?
I clicked on the links provided by TGJ and Mariah fan sites and they never open up. I went to the iTunes website and it didn’t work. Lol
Do u have a iphone sis?
Yes iPhone 5 but I haven’t done a software update in a while so maybe that’s it!
Oh well I have a iphone tooo and I just clicked the link and it pulls up in iTunes Radio and starts playing . My professor in school let’s us listen to music so I stream it a lot cause my schools wifi is fast Af lmao
That’s cool!! The wifi in my school sucks ass!!! Only works well in the library!
Btw, I’m still gonna call you Navy Commander. I lie it more. 🙂
I just changed to rih icon cause it’s shorter & I like it more
I’m so excited to hear that Whitney’s life story will be told. This must be done properly !!!! It’s no room for error. Words like EPIC and LEGEND are tossed around way too often, but this is one diva whose picture is next to it in the dictionary. Whit’s history is so ground breaking, this is the woman with the biggest era EVER that we’re talking about!!!! This MUST BE DONE RIGHT!
This made my night! I’m so turnt up right now! … I’m really excited about Aaliyah too. I love her as well, but Whit got me all in my feelings. It great to see both their legacies being honored.
I had to read this:
the pic chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer-songwriter Bobby Brown — from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage.
…But then I reread this:
“I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments; and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” said Bassett in a statement.
Are they shedding light on Nippy’s career or ONLY focusing on Whitney & Bobby’s relationship? If it’s the latter, they can scrap it!
I wouldn´t get too excited hun. These things tend to be terrible, and at the end of the day they always show scenes that never happened in real life, just assumptions.
Y’all remember that Beyonce movie “Obsessed”? LOOOL
You remember Glitter????? Lmfaooooooooooo
I think Zendaya or Cassie would make a good Aaliyah…or that girl from 106 & Park.
Lmao no b****.
Not on my watch.
I think Ciara or Keri hilson would do it justice.
NOPE! I want a new actress, or very unknown one.
Love VH1 but Whitney Houston deserves movie theatre treatment, so does my favorite female R&B singer Aaliyah as well. In my opinion, TLC should of gotten that treatment.
The Aaliyah movie would sell out in movie theatres in my opinion. Why? Example: Queen Of The Damned. Movie was a 6/10 but Aaliyah’s acting showed so much promise in that movie. Glad she did it.
The only person that can play Aaliyah is 106 & Parks Keshia Chante. She is the only one that is classy and doesn’t like to talk about her s** life and seem like a h**. I remember she shut down Ebro on Hot97 for talking about s** to her like she was another Erica Mena or some girl.
Keshia is already set to play the role but she said she doesn’t want to do it unless Aaliyah’s family green lights it. It’s very unfortunate that a movie of Aaliyah’s life can be made without her families permission because they don’t own her estate. SMH!
her best movie was romeo must die not queen of the damned that movies had horrible reviews
You did see me say 6/10 right? The writing of the movie sucked but Aaliyah’s performance in it was stellar. And plus it was #1 at the box office.
I thought Rihanna was gonna play nippy but cissy shut that s*** down quick fast and in a hurry! She was ready to lay down in the casket with Whitney before she would let rih play her, I was like damn
LOOL!!!
They need to hurry and release the s***!!!!
Damn, been in the process for 1289829327 years!!!
Right there’s been ‘rumors’ since 2012
Chile, they deen talking about an Aaliyah movie since she died…
Aaliyah does have better music than Beyonce tho… But thats cause of Timberland & Missy Elliot’s genius minds…
Where is Molly?
WHY YOU ASKING ABOUT MY SIS THOUGH?
Album: Ciara
#74 Anguilla
#95 Tajikistan
#119 Dominica
#120 Dominica
#206 The Bahamas
#221 Mongolia
#272 Bermuda
#297 Antigua and Barbuda
#377 Vietnam
*exits*
WHOS pressed though? Girl you need some dikk or something?
Lmfaooooooo Those are actually the numbers The Hasbeen Chanteuse will debut across the World.
Am I the only one who thinks that Whitney is too good & too iconic for a Lifetime movie? I will reserve judgement til I see it but she needs a biopic that is a big budget studio movie stat. That woman was a national treasure
Absolutely.
Your Mine better slaay Namibia tho!
—–
You’re Mine
#24 Namibia
#27 Jordan
#37 Philippines
#41 Qatar
#47 Bahrain
#51 Mongolia
#58 Singapore
#76 United Arab Emirates
#85 Malaysia
#96 Antigua and Barbuda
#99 Saudi Arabia
#104 South Africa
#137 Ukraine
#149 Oman
#151 Portugal
#157 Nigeria
#158 Brazil
#172 Mozambique
#186 Botswana
#232 Taiwan
#237 Italy
#240 Australia
#250 Hungary
#253 Netherlands
#303 Papua New Guinea
#304 New Zealand
#321 Zimbabwe
#332 United States
#352 Spain
#371 Ireland
That song was terrible. It was an album filler type song. It would not have even made it on her Daydream, Butterfly or Emancipation album…
If the Aaliyah movie were intended to be anything remarkable, I suspect they would’ve informed the fans of the project more than just 3 months ahead of August if that’s the true release date. I did not like the TLC biopic (aside from Lil Mama’s performance) and have little to no expectations for Aaliyah’s movie. As for Whitney, a Lifetime movie format will simply not suffice, especially after seeing Lifetime’s mishandling of the incredible story of Betty & Coretta.
How would they ever be able to make someone lip-synching Whitney’s music look realistic? Lip-synching in the Tina Turner movie worked because Tina is known more for her intense energy and raw emotion; lip-synching worked in the Selena movie because the story was more about style and culture and Selena’s connection to her fans. Whitney is all about the voice – you just can’t fake that.
I don’t really care if anybody replies with anything to say or negate to my opinion but..a few things first before i state my opinion, 1)why on earth do you guys go around hating on who someone else likes.That’s there preference,they can feel and like how they want. 2) Why are you guys bringing up random artist in this post when it Said “Whitney Houston & Aaliyah” and 3)The Disrespect MUST Stop!!!!
Now to my opinion:
These women were very classy and tried to live their lives like that and in my book they need to find somebody who represents that class.
(Raven-Symone,Megan Good,Gabrielle Union,) I don’t think Keshia Chante playing Aaliyah is a bad idea (her image seems pretty decent) but i don’t know if i agree that she looks like her.
BTW Since there talking about Biopics,they need to hurry up and make the Teena Marie Story Starring JoJo.
Dead people ….. Yuck!
OMGOD Prays for you!
There´s something about it I don´t like. Whitney Houston is so damn untouchable, and they are not even going to address a big part of her career (and the best vocally), the 80s. Only her marriage. I hate it.
Also, TGJ please stop trying to make Aliyah happen as a memorable artist or something. Barely known worldwide, and nothing comparable to Whintey in the USA either. You shoulsn´t have put them together in the same post.
Aaliyah is a memorable artist and is known worldwide. Stay pressed
Please…
I can’t wait for those biopics! Whitney’s will be more interesting though. Aaliyah bio should’ve been out. What unbelievable talents the music world lost when these two passed. I miss both so much.
I’m very excited for the Aaliyah movie. Really hope it’s gonna be good.
HELL NO!!! NOT HERE FOR IT! (Either) I was a huge Aaliyah fan when I was a little girl and even still have a promo banner from the I Care 4 U and was a Whitney fan before she died. I actually saw her on her last tour. I think what they are doing is SO DISRESPECTFUL! You are trying to tell me what they are doing is right? I’m so sick of this manipulation of deceased artists. From MJ’s hologram and new album to this bull****, I just can’t deal! If you all want to watch, then best of luck to you. As for this lady, no ma’am, no sir, never in my lifetime. Such a shady ass business, and yet people still want to be famous…