Michael Jackson Reportedly Wanted to Play Jar Jar Binks in 'Star Wars'
Movie

'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace' director George Lucas refused to have Jackson play the clumsy character because the singer 'wanted to do it in prosthetics and makeup like 'Thriller'. '

AceShowbiz - Though Michael Jackson had been successful in his music career and even earned the title of "King of Pop," he reportedly wanted to try his hand at acting. In an interview with Vice, voice actor Ahmed Best revealed that Jackson wanted to play clumsy Gungan Jar Jar Binks in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" but the film's mastermind George Lucas shot down the idea.

Best, who voiced and provided motion capture for Binks character, learned about Jackson's desire from Lucas. "Me, Natalie Portman, and George's kids - we were at Wembley arena at Michael Jackson's concert," Best explained. "We were taken backstage and we met Michael. There was Michael and Lisa Marie [Presley]. George introduced me as 'Jar Jar' and I was like, 'That's kind of weird.' Michael was like, 'Oh. OK.' I thought, 'What is going on?' "

"After Michael had driven off, we all go back up to a big afterparty. I'm having a drink with George and I said, 'Why did you introduce me as Jar Jar?' " the voice actor continued. "He said, 'Well, Michael wanted to do the part but he wanted to do it in prosthetics and makeup like 'Thriller'. "

The director, in fact, wanted to have different ways to create the image of the character. "George wanted to do it in CGI. My guess is ultimately Michael Jackson would have been bigger than the movie, and I don't think he wanted that," Best added.

Binks character received a lot of criticism after the 1999's Star Wars film hit theaters. The character was then diminished in the two subsequent "Star Wars" films, 2002's "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" and 2005's "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". "At the end of the day, it is the movie business, and if the character doesn't work for the people who watch the movie then the character doesn't work. I can't take that personally," Best said.

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