25 Years Ago, A WILD Star Wars Rumor Made Fans Furious (Not Only Was It True, It Got Cut From the Film)

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The era of the Star Wars prequel trilogy was a strange period for the franchise. While Star Wars films and shows have always had varying levels of success – including recent years since Disney took over – the prequels stood out. This was George Lucas’s first return to the big screen after the original trilogy, and he had a lot more creative control due to its success. This freedom resulted in some unusual choices, like a teenage queen, the character Jar Jar Binks, and the idea that Force ability is inherited through family.

Given how unusual things were surrounding the release of the Star Wars prequel films, it’s not surprising that many strange rumors spread. But one rumor about Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones was particularly odd – and turned out to be true. In fact, the scene that sparked the rumor was actually filmed and initially included in the movie before being removed.

NSYNC Members Were Going To Have A Cameo In Attack Of The Clones

Before the release of Attack of the Clones in 2002, there was a lot of talk that the boy band NSYNC would appear in the film. It seemed incredibly strange – even unbelievable – at the time. While Star Wars had featured famous actors before, this would have been a completely unexpected addition to the galaxy far, far away. (Though, looking back, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore – Lizzo’s appearance in The Mandalorian proves anything is possible!)

It seems the rumors were actually true! According to People magazine, three members of the band – Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, and Joey Fatone – filmed scenes as Jedi Knights and their apprentices in the Battle of Geonosis at the end of the movie, which starts the Clone Wars. They even had some fight training to get ready for their roles, and the scenes were actually completed.

These Cameos Were Ultimately Cut From The Movie

Kirkpatrick, Chasez, and Fatone did train for and film fight scenes, but they didn’t make the final cut of the movie. According to an article in People magazine, one reason for this was union rules – because the band members were already part of SAG-AFTRA, the studio would have had to pay extra to include them in the film.

The band also explained that the quick and strong negative reaction from fans to the rumors played a big part in the decision. While Star Wars has often taken chances over the years, with varying degrees of success, the public’s disapproval of these potential cameos was enough for Lucasfilm to reconsider.

These Cameos Were The Last Thing Star Wars Needed

In the end, it was probably best that NSYNC didn’t appear in Attack of the Clones. Even though some fans might have enjoyed seeing them, the idea itself received a lot of negative feedback. Since the prequel movies were already facing criticism, adding this cameo wouldn’t have improved things. It would have likely become a continuing source of complaints, and that’s the last thing Star Wars needed.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I always knew the prequels had a tough crowd! It’s amazing how much negativity built up before some of the most criticized scenes even aired. People were already finding things to dislike, and it felt like those complaints would just keep going and going. I remember the buzz around awkward lines in Attack of the Clones, and then even more during Revenge of the Sith – a lot of the issues seemed to center on Anakin’s dialogue, which unfortunately became a running joke!

While a quick, harmless appearance by famous musicians might be enjoyable in another movie series, it wouldn’t have worked well in Attack of the Clones or with Star Wars in general. The momentary amusement for some fans wouldn’t have been worth the likely negative reaction from most viewers.

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2026-05-11 16:11