The dormant echoes of the legendary boy band NSYNC seem to be stirring after more than two decades of hibernation, and fans are buzzing with speculation about an imminent reunion. The catalyst? “Trolls Band Together,” the third animated installment in the Trolls movie series, starring none other than Justin Timberlake.
While Entertainment Tonight, citing undisclosed insiders, reports that the former NSYNC members — Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick — are poised for an unexpected comeback alongside Timberlake in “Trolls Band Together,” no official confirmation has been made yet. Whispers suggest that this quintet might also contribute a fresh track to the movie’s soundtrack.
Although unverified, the preview for the upcoming musical comedy movie leaves breadcrumbs for keen-eyed enthusiasts, subtly alluding to the possibility of an NSYNC resurgence.
In the trailer, Branch (voiced by Timberlake) encounters his long-lost sibling John Dory (Eric André), unearthing the revelation that Branch was once part of a family boy band named BroZone. John Dory and his fellow siblings (voiced by Kid Cudi, Troye Sivan, and Daveed Diggs) enthrall viewers with a medley of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” adapting the lyrics to “BroZone’s back.” This resonates with NSYNC’s tribute performance to the Bee Gees at the 2003 Grammys, which featured “Stayin’ Alive.”
A pivotal line further fuels the intrigue as one of Branch’s brothers remarks, “Branch, we’re out of sync,” a clear nod to Timberlake’s previous pop group, and also a playful reference to several other boy bands. The narrative of the movie appears to revolve around the quest of Branch and John Dory to reunite their estranged brothers and orchestrate a grand revival.
In an intriguing twist, Timberlake’s character in the film expresses being abandoned by the rest of the band (“my brothers walked out on me and never came back”). This plot device mirrors reality, as Timberlake was the first to part ways with NSYNC in 2002, embarking on a solo career. While the band never formally announced a breakup and remained on indefinite hiatus, Bass’s memoir “Out of Sync” in 2007 presented a more conclusive stance, declaring, “We’re definitely broken up.”
Hints have been strategically dropped across social media, further fueling the speculation. JC Chasez’s musings about his involvement with the “Tabby 5” in an Instagram ad for Meow Mix cat food have sparked curiosity about potential boy band ventures. Lance Bass has added playful teases on TikTok regarding the band’s reunion.
NSYNC has occasionally resurfaced, reuniting for Timberlake’s 2013 VMA performance and jointly appearing on Ellen in 2018 to celebrate their Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The group graced Ariana Grande’s Coachella set in 2019, sans Timberlake.
With the Trolls movie franchise known for its hit soundtracks, including Timberlake’s chart-topping “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” it’s reasonable to assume that “Trolls Band Together” will follow suit. Given Timberlake’s consistent involvement in the franchise and the movie’s boy band focus, the tantalizing prospect of an NSYNC revival becomes more compelling.
As anticipation builds, representatives from Universal, RCA, and the former NSYNC members have yet to comment, leaving fans hanging on the cusp of a potential resurfacing that could reignite the fervor of an era gone by. The NSYNC whisper continues to crescendo, sparking a longing for the days of pop anthems and synchronized dance moves, perhaps, without any strings attached.
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