*NSYNC Reunites in Studio to Record 'Better Place' for Trolls Band Together in New Behind-the-Scenes Video (Exclusive) - PEOPLE magazine

 

*NSYNC Reunites in Studio to Record 'Better Place' for Trolls Band Together in New Behind-the-Scenes Video (Exclusive)

*NSYNC released their first song in over 20 years in September

By Esme Mazzeo 

 

Published on January 16, 2024 10:00AM EST

*NSYNC's reunion to record "Better Place" was a feel-good family affair!

In a new PEOPLE exclusive video, the directors of Trolls Band Together explain how and why they were able to reunite Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone in a studio together to record a new song for the first time in over 20 years.

"Justin has always been such a great partner in all the films, and this one we really got to involve him pretty early," Trolls Band Together co-director Walt Dohrn said in the clip. "There's a level of nostalgia now for the '90s boy band stuff, so we had the best consultant I think you could get on boy band history."

The most recent film in the Trolls franchise — Trolls Band Together is now available on digital and 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD — sees Poppy (Anna Kendrick) learning that Branch (Timberlake) was in a boy band called "BroZone" with Floyd (Troye Sivan) and some of his other brothers. When Floyd is kidnapped, Poppy and Branch rescue him, and reunite all of the brothers in the process.

Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass andJoey Fatone
of *NSYNC seen backstage during the 2023 Video Music Awards in New Jersey
in September 2023. 

JOHN SHEARER/GETTY IMAGES FOR MTV

The directors thought the plot was the perfect reason to reunite *NSYNC for the purpose of recording a song, Timberlake, 42, agreed. Chasez, 47, Bass, 44, Kirkpatrick, 52 and Fatone, 46, also have parts in the film.

"To have *NSYNC on this project and having this new music from them...it's one of those kind of 'pinch me' moments, like, is this really happening?" asked co-director Tim Heitz.

Not only did it happen — the clip above has new evidence that the bandmates had a blast together singing, dancing, consulting each other and sharing the song with Bass's mom, Diane Bass.

Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake and Joey Fatone
of boy band NSYNC arrive for the premiere of "Trolls: Band Together"
in Hollywood in November 2023. 

VALERIE MACON/AFP VIA GETTY 

All five guys have laid back vibes as they sing and record their lines in the studio.

"I love you guys," Timberlake says at one point in the featurette, before asking an emotionally overcome Diane, "Are you all up in your feels right now?" with a smile.

Diane Bass and Justin Timberlake. 

UNIVERSAL PICTURES ALL-ACCESS/ YOUTUBE

*NSYNC fans have had a case of the feels for months! The band has reunited on a few different occasions throughout the years, but rumblings of a studio reunion began in mid-September 2023 when the five guys presented Taylor Swift with an award at the VMAs.

They then appeared in a group interview on a Sept. 21 episode of Hot Ones, before releasing "Better Together" on Sept. 29.