While Star Wars: Attack of the Clones featured iconic stars like Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christopher Lee, the second prequel narrowly missed out on a cameo from the illustrious pop band, NSYNC, according to Joey Fatone. Attack of the Clones premiered in 2002 as the second part to the Star Wars prequel trilogy to the original George Lucas trilogy. In the episode, ten years after The Phantom Menace takes place, a separatist movement threatens the Republic and begins the Clone Wars, which will eventually unravel the republic.
The Star Wars franchise has featured many actors, musicians, and celebrities in cameos over the course of 11 movies and several more spinoff television series, some even as recurring characters. For instance, actor Danny Trejo and musician Thundercat both recently made brief appearances in The Book of Boba Fett. Trejo appeared in episode 3 as a Rancor trainer who teaches Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) about his gift from the Hutt twins, and Thundercat comes in the next episode as a space mechanic who attaches machine parts to people to create a sort of human/droid hybrid.
The Star Wars prequel trilogy also enjoyed its fair share of cameos from celebrities, family members, and actors from the original films, but according to NSYNC member Fatone, Attack of the Clones had to cut one from the boy band. At a Fandemic Tour Atlanta panel (via Comicbook), Fatone revealed what the cut scene entailed and explained why the scene didn't make it into Attack of the Clones. Read what Fatone said below about why the cameo was cut:
"I wasn't in it. They cut us out," Fatone said when asked about the deleted cameo. "There was a whole big rumor about NSYNC being in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Some of us actually were, but then 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."
After their PopOddesssey Tour, Fatone, along with his brother Steve, as well as Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez of NSYNC, filmed a short cameo in George Lucas's Attack of the Clones. In two scenes, the four act as Jedis along with hundreds of other extras in the Battle of Geonosis. Bandmates Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass, however, did not make the trip due to exhaustion from the tour. Fatone has now confirmed the longstanding rumor, but it's unfortunate the cameo never made it into the film.
However, Fatone and company seem to have enjoyed the experience regardless of whether or not they appeared in the final cut. And now, they at least have a cool story to tell and will certainly cherish memories of not only being on a Star Wars set, but filming a cameo. Ultimately, Fatone and and the rest of the NSYNC band members thought it was worth it — after all, who wouldn't enjoy the opportunity to swing a lightsaber around for a little while for Attack of the Clones?
Source: Comicbook