No one really thought Jar Jar Binks could get any weirder, but that turns out to be completely untrue.
Ahmed Best, the actor who ended up with the infamous role, told Vice Michael Jackson wanted what ended up being the most reviled character in the Star Wars universe. Ultimately, the role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace went to the relatively unknown actor, because it would just be silly to moonwalk on Naboo.
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Best, who was discovered while performing in Stomp on Broadway, says he found out through an awkward encounter backstage at a Michael Jackson show he attended with George Lucas, his kids and Natalie Portman.
"George introduced me as 'Jar Jar' and I was like, That's kind of weird," Best told Vice. "Michael was like, 'Oh. OK.' I thought, What is going on?"
Best asked Lucas about the exchange over drinks at the afterparty and Lucas explained Jackson wanted the part. He wasn't into the idea of CGI, which was what Lucas had in mind, and wanted to recreate the magic of "Thriller" with prosthetics and makeup.
"My guess is ultimately Michael Jackson would have been bigger than the movie," Best continued. "And I don't think he wanted that."
We'll never know what could have been. Without CGI, would Jar Jar actually have had a hint of charm to him? Would Star Wars fans still want the gungan to beat it if one of the most famous pop stars of all time tackled the role?