The recently reunited pop band appeared on an episode of 'Hot Ones' that was released on Thursday
*NSYNC almost went to a galaxy far, far away.
In an episode of Hot Ones that was released on Thursday, the recently reunited band opened up about how they were supposed to have a cameo in the 2002 Star Wars film Attack of the Clones but were cut from the final version.
Host Sean Evans asked the group featuring Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass to confirm if it was true that they played Jedi Knights in one scene in the movie starring Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor.
“Ask these guys,” Bass, 44, said sarcastically on Hot Ones, while gesturing to Kirkpatrick, 51, Chasez, 47, and Fatone, 46.
“We were the three!” Kirkpatrick confirmed, referring to himself, Chasez and Fatone. “It never made it to the screen.”
Timberlake, 42, revealed how jealous he and Bass were that they didn’t get to participate in the opportunity. “I think I remember us getting a call like, ‘You’re never going to believe what happened,'” the pop singer said. “Me and Lance were so butthurt.”
“But they got cut out anyway, so it doesn’t even matter,” Bass interjected, later mentioning that one of the reasons the scene was edited out was because of backlash from Star Wars fans.
Members of the “Bye Bye Bye” band explained that they briefly had to undergo fight training for the film. Fatone added, “The dumbest thing, though, is when we were doing the scenes, you literally are going ‘voom voom’ like an idiot.”
While Kirkpatrick said he’d wish they could watch the footage now, Fatone shared that he has been trying to get access to it. The singer/actor said, “I’ve asked Rick McCallum, the producer, ‘Where’s the footage?’ because I know he has it. So let’s get that footage please. I wanna see it!’"
Fatone and his brother Steven, who was also supposed to appear in the film, have opened up about the scene getting cut before. In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post, they explained that the hitmakers were asked to be in the film by McCallum’s daughter who was a fan.
"The whole thing felt surreal for us," the *NSYNC member said.
While Steven shared that they wore Jedi robes and Padawan braids, and shot two scenes, including a climatic battle sequence, he added that it ultimately got cut “for two reasons.” He explained that while the cameo was still a rumor, the strong, negative reaction from Star Wars fans contributed to the decision, as well as SAG-AFTRA policies involving extras.
Joey Fatone also spoke about the scene's removal at Fandemic Tour Atlanta, per a video of his panel at Fandemic Dead 2022. He said, "They cut it out because we were [SAG-AFTRA members]. Usually, they have to pay the SAG rights to it. We only signed a confidential thing — which we didn't say anything — but they had to cut us out of it."
Although it was cut, the possible scene still inspired a Saturday Night Live sketch at the time.
The “It’s Gonna Be Me” group recently reunited at the MTV VMAs after teasing a potential reunion.
Since their appearance at the award show, where they presented Taylor Swift with the award for best pop video, their first new song together as a band since 2002 has been confirmed.
The release of the Trolls Band Together trailer revealed the fivesome worked on the song “Better Place” for the soundtrack.
The new track will officially be released on Sept. 29.