‘N Sync on Scrapped ‘Star Wars’ Cameo and “It’s Gonna Be Me” Meme

‘N Sync, who recently reunited for a new song, is reflecting on their time as a group, including a scrapped movie cameo, band memes and their favorite songs.

The boy band, which consists of Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, recently appeared on a Hot Ones episode to kick off its season 22. During one segment, host Sean Evans asked them about their most memorable band moments, including when they were cast as Jedi warriors in 2002’s Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

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While Kirkpatrick, Chasez and Fatone confirmed they were initially cast and learned “a bit of sword choreography” for the role, Timberlake said he and Bass were “butt hurt” because they weren’t included. But Timberlake proceeded to joke about being relieved when the cameo ended up getting cut from the film.

Fatone added that they “wish they had the video” of them in the scrapped scene because “as we were doing the scenes, you’re literally going ‘vroom, vroom’ like an idiot.”

Later during the episode, Timberlake clarified the pronunciation of “Me” in the band’s hit song “It’s Gonna Be Me,” which eventually turned into a meme on social media because it sounds like he says “May.” The singer said the change in pronunciation was due to a specific request from Swedish songwriter-producer Max Martin.

“The parts of their English that were broken actually made them catchier songwriters, because they would put words [in] a way they almost didn’t make sense, but when you sang them, they were more memorable,” Timberlake explained. “But yes, it was a specific note and I did it the way that he requested, and that’s what made the record.”

For Evans’ last question for the boy band, he asked if they could “collectively come up with the official Mount Rushmore of ‘N Sync songs?”

After going back and forth briefly, Bass shared their final ranking: “I Thought She Knew,” “Bye Bye Bye,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” with “This I Promise You” as an honorable mention.

The band will release their first song together in more than 20 years, “Better Place,” on Sept. 29. The track will also appear in the upcoming Trolls Band Together movie, which hits theaters Nov. 17.

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