Legendary pop star Michael Jackson reportedly wanted to star as Jar Jar Binks in the “Star Wars” prequels.
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So, imagine for a moment, Jar Jar as a completely prosthetic creation, except it’s one of the most recognizable pop icons of the 20th century under there. Best tells VICE that MJ wanted to wear prosthetics much like what he did in the “Thriller” video, but Lucas was set on having the character be CGI.
Recalling meeting Jackson, Best wrote in Vice: “Me, Natalie Portman, and George’s kids – we were at Wembley Arena at Michael Jackson’s concert”.
But the musician wanted the part, according to the man who ultimately played one of the most hated characters in the franchise, Ahmed Best. After Michael had driven off, we all go back up to a big afterparty. There was Michael and Lisa Marie [Presley].
However, he’s learned not to take it personally (“It is the movie business”), partially because he has benefited from at least a couple perks from the gig. As if Jar Jar isn’t distracting enough, how (ahem) jarring would it have been if all you could think of the entire time was that it’s Michael frakkin’ Jackson doing…whatever the hell it was that Jar Jar was supposed to be doing in that movie.
“George introduced me as “Jar Jar, ‘ and I was like, ‘That’s kind of weird”, Best said. In fact, it could have been unbelievably worse: instead of an annoying CGI character, Jar Jar Binks might have been played by Michael Jackson in prosthetics.
While it doesn’t appear there will be any Gungan presence in December’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Best has remained busy, including co-starring in a comedy series titled “2 Black Dudes” said to have network interest. “OK.’ I thought, ‘What is going on?'”.
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That’s what George told me. A year ago, he mentioned on Reddit that he had originally beaten out Jackson for the role, and now he has explained the full story in an interview with Vice.
