The NSYNC Biopic That Almost Was (Exclusive)

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Fans eagerly anticipating NSYNC‘s comeback might need to be patient a bit more, as it seems their long-awaited biopic may be temporarily delayed.

According to reports, longtime producer Neal H. Moritz, famous for his work on “Fast and Furious” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” has been trying to sell a movie that centers around the success of NSYNC following their legal dispute with ex-manager Lou Pearlman. He’s had conversations with all five members – Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick, in an attempt to secure their involvement in the project.

As a gamer, I found myself excited about the project advancing to the screenwriting phase with whispers of Timberlake joining as an executive producer. However, the path to the screen was not without hurdles from the get-go. The main issue? Securing the signatures of all five owners who jointly hold the brand, each represented by a distinct management firm. One source close to the situation described it as “a complex web of negotiations” with the band.

A different source indicates that the concept resonated with the team, considering the success of recent movies such as “A Complete Unknown” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the box office. However, they are reportedly engaged in private deliberations about alternative ideas and prospective ventures, including a documentary. The source hints that the timing might not be optimal, since there’s no accompanying tour scheduled.

Moving forward with a biographical film without NSYNC’s approval and access to their authentic music would necessitate creating a fictional narrative. As an insider explained, “Fans are eager for more NSYNC, we understand that,” so if this project is postponed for future negotiations, it keeps the possibility open.

The success story of NSYNC appears to be perfectly timed for the current wave of ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia. In 1995, a group of five young lads, ranging from 15 to 24 years old, recorded a demo at Shaquille O’Neal’s residence and eventually secured a record deal in Germany. They found success in Europe first before relocating back to the U.S., where they became one of the most significant boy bands of their time. Their self-titled debut album, NSYNC, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard charts in 1998 and included popular tracks like “I Want You Back” and “Tearin’ Up My Heart.

As a devoted NSYNC fan, I’ve always been intrigued by the role Lou Pearlman played in their success – a man known for kick-starting the careers of acts like the Backstreet Boys and O-Town. However, our relationship with him took a turn for the worse, culminating in a 1999 legal dispute over the group’s finances. We, the members of NSYNC, accused Pearlman of misrepresenting his role within our band and the terms of our contracts. We claimed he was pocketing an unfair portion of our earnings, and that he wasn’t entitled to a sixth member’s share as he had suggested. Instead, we maintained that he was merely our manager, and therefore should not receive such a large cut.

Ultimately, the legal dispute was resolved outside of court, and the band secured a fresh recording agreement that led to one of the most successful albums of the 2000s, “No Strings Attached,” which shifted 2.4 million copies in its inaugural week. Hot on its heels came “Celebrity” in 2001, and both albums debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2004, the band NSYNC took an indefinite break, during which Justin Timberlake embarked on a successful solo career that made him a global pop sensation. (The representatives for each member of NSYNC chose not to provide comments about this matter.)

In the end, Lou Pearlman, known for orchestrating one of history’s biggest Ponzi schemes, served time in prison. He passed away in 2016. Three years later, a documentary called The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story, produced by Lance Bass, hit the screens. This film functions as a warning, detailing claims of Pearlman’s inappropriate conduct towards young male artists.

The latest news involves the surge of popularity in music biopics, with films like “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) setting new records, grossing a staggering $910.8 million worldwide. Producer Graham King, who was behind the success of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, aims to replicate that success with the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic titled “Michael”, scheduled for release on October 3 by Lionsgate.

Timothée Chalamet can be seen in theaters alongside Bob Dylan’s feature film titled “A Complete Unknown”, and as for Bruce Springsteen, his biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere” is being made right now and set to release in 2026. Ridley Scott plans to start shooting a biopic about the Bee Gees later this year, while Sam Mendes’ high-profile series of four Beatles movies is currently on the lookout for the Fab Four members.

Justin Timberlake leveraged his popularity in the music industry to excel in film roles, receiving accolades for performances in “The Social Network” (2010) and as a key character in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls” series, which was last shown in cinemas with “Trolls World Tour” in 2023 and featured an NSYNC collaboration track, their first in almost two decades.

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2025-01-28 23:27