Zoe Saldana Cast As Nina Simone in Upcoming Biopic

It's official: Zoe Saldana will be starring as Nina Simone in a new biopic about the jazz legend.

The film, simply titled Nina, is slated to be released later this year, but the project has already raised ire among fans and Simone's family because of its decision to cast the Avatar actress as the late singer.

Saldana, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, has been critized for not looking enough like Simone. The singer's daughter, a performer herself known as "Simone," talked to Ebony about the controversial casting choice.

"As an actress I respect her process," she told the magazine, "but I also know there are many actresses out there, known or not, who would be great as my mother."

She added: "I also have no problem introducing someone we've never heard of before who can play my mother."

According to Essence, Saldana expressed some concern with fans' reactions during a sit down with BET. "Though it did sting for a bit that a community that you feel most identified with would have such a negative backlash, and you're the epicenter of it all, [it] is very disappointing," she said.

Caught in a heap of criticism for portraying Simone, Saldana also told BET that all of the efforts put towards the film were well-intentioned, stating, "All I can say is the people that came together to do Nina, came together out of love for Nina. So that will never be wrong and I will always stand behind that."

Meanwhile, a documentary on Simone will air on Netflix this summer, using never-seen-before recordings and archival footage of the legendary blues woman.

Who do you think would be the best actress to play Nina Simone? Let us know in the comments section.