Michael Jackson wanted to play Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars prequels

Would Michael Jackson have made Jar Jar Binks’ appearance in the Star Wars prequels more bearable? We’re guessing not.

But the musician wanted the part, according to the man who ultimately played one of the most hated characters in the franchise, Ahmed Best. He told Vice about how he came to find out about Jackson’s interest in the part.

He said that he was backstage at a Michael Jackson concert with George Lucas who introduced Best to the singer as Jar Jar. He was confused at the time and later asked Lucas why he introduced him like that. Lucas told him, “Michael wanted to do the part but he wanted to do it in prosthetics and makeup like 'Thriller.”

“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.

Jackson did appear on screen a couple of times in his lifetime. He played the Scarecrow in The Wiz, and later appeared as Agent M in Men in Black II.

Despite his character being ridiculed the world over, Best has kept plugging away and will be on screen this autumn in the Seth MacFarlane executive-produced series 2 Black Dudes.