Perhaps the only issue rivaling the expansiveness of the Star Wars universe is the remarkable scale of the multimedia franchise itself. The Skywalker Saga consists of a tremendous nine films, the extended universe is so big it split the canon, and the resurgent like for the sci-fi franchise has led to numerous spin-offs that continue to illuminate the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Not just a single of the most common sci-fi franchises, but a single of the most recognizable operates of fiction in pop culture, Star Wars is a single of these projects that has captured the hearts of generations of fans spanning across the globe. The like for Star Wars is so massive that even some of the most significant names in pop culture can not enable but be drawn to the franchise, as numerous fans themselves wanted to seem in the films. And back in the early aughts, as the prequels had been hitting the silver screen, even the hit boy band NSYNC was amongst the masses wanting to be in Star Wars. They had been extremely close as well, as members of the pop group got a possibility to film brief cameo scenes for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, even though they had been in the end reduce from the film.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Ten years right after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, though Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.

Release Date

May 16, 2002

Director

George Lucas

Runtime

142 minutes

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Writers

George Lucas , Jonathan Hales

Expand

*NSYNC Members Filmed Scenes in ‘Attack of the Clones’

In the lawless land of the prequel films’ rumor mill, word spread that the hit boy band NSYNC would be producing a cameo look in Attack of the Clones. However, when the film was released, even the most astute fans had been unable to discover the singers in the film. However, even though the pop group in no way appeared in the final item, fans had been a lot closer to seeing the singers in Jedi robes than they could have anticipated. Over two decades later, Joey Fatone confirmed for the duration of a panel at Fandemic Tour Atlanta that NSYNC did, in truth, film two scenes as Jedi, which includes a fight scene alongside the many other Jedi extras in the Battle of Geonosis. Fatone also shared the factors why the scenes had been in the end reduce, which had been the unfavorable backlash from Star Wars fans and the added SAG-AFTRA costs and policies for extras.

But even even though they did not seem in the theatrical release, the scenes had been nonetheless filmed. Band members Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick confirmed that they received the complete Jedi therapy and had been dressed in the conventional flowing tan robes, the iconic Padawan braids, and had been even provided their personal lightsabers. Fatone’s brother, Steven, was also capable to join them. Fellow band members Lance Bass and Justin Timberlake had been reportedly as well exhausted from their concurrent tour for the duration of the time of filming and had been unable to participate, even though the two later lamented on missing out on the knowledge in their Hot Ones interview. Though disappointed that they had been in the end removed, the band members nonetheless appear back on the knowledge fondly, sharing that they discovered themselves producing the lightsaber sound effects though playing their components.

Related

One of Star Wars’ Best Lightsaber Duels Isn’t Canon

The lightsaber duel at the finish of ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ second season is amongst the most brutal and exhilarating in the saga’s history.

The King of Pop and the Princes of England Almost Appeared in Star Wars

The common singers, even so, had been not the only celebrities who wanted to seem in Star Wars, but in the end did not make the reduce. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop himself, famously wanted to play Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. A lifelong fan of Star Wars, Jackson did get a possibility to collaborate with Lucas in the 1986 brief film, Captain EO. Produced by Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Jackson starred as the titular Captain EO, a charismatic pilot major a motley assortment of aliens on an outer space adventure. The film had visual components evocative of Star Wars, but was wholly distinct and even featured a handful of musical numbers. Shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 via 1998, the film was regrettably the closest Jackson got to appearing in Star Wars, as Lucas in the end cast yet another individual in his coveted Gungan function.

The King of Pop wasn’t the only nobility to practically seem in Star Wars, as England’s Prince William and Prince Harry filmed a cameo scene for Star Wars: The Last Jedi in 2016. Though the two created it additional than Jackson in the course of action, even having a possibility to seem on set, the royals’ scenes in no way basically created it into the final reduce. Playing a pair of Stormtroopers alongside actor Tom Hardy, William and Harry appeared in a scene alongside Finn (John Boyega), Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), and DJ (Benicio del Toro). However, William and Harry, standing at more than 6 feet tall each and every, had been unusually tall for Stormtroopers, which would have created them stand out from the visual uniformity of the soldiers.

Other Actors and Celebrities Made Cameos in Star Wars

While numerous celebrity cameos had been left on the cutting area floor, there have been a lot of effective on-screen appearances of noteworthy actors and celebrities in the Star Wars films. The legendary composer John Williams, accountable for the iconic musical score for the series, ultimately created a cameo look in the films in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Williams briefly appeared as a bartender in an underworld hangout, right after some convincing to even seem in the film. Director J.J. Abrams and the crew even shocked Williams by producing 51 diverse props to surround him in honor of his 51 Oscar nominations. Of course, he’s gotten a handful of additional Academy Award nominations due to the fact then.

Another touching addition to the Star Wars films was the inclusion of Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher’s daughter, in the sequel trilogy. As Lieutenant Connix, Lourd appeared in all 3 of the sequel films and even stepped in as Leia’s physique double in The Rise of Skywalker right after her mother’s passing. Other celebrity cameos had been far much less apparent, but have turn out to be exciting Easter eggs for astute fans. Simon Pegg appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Unkar Plutt, the alien junk boss on Jakku with whom Rey (Daisy Ridley) traded her scavenged goods. Daniel Craig also appeared in the film, portraying the Stormtrooper whom Rey tricks employing a Jedi thoughts trick. And Ahmed Best, the man who beat out Michael Jackson for the function of Jar Jar Binks, even appeared briefly in Attack of the Clones as a single of the bar guests in the early chase scene in the film.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is out there to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+