In news that is truly “off the wall” (sorry), George Lucas has revealed that Michael Jackson approached him for the role of the Anakin’s BFF (and possible Sith Lord) Jar Jar Binks, in the critically acclaimed Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace.

Unfortunately, while Lucas wanted Jar Jar in CGI (along with everything else), Jackson intended to play the role live in character makeup and (more) prosthetics: as he was in his hugely successful Thriller video.

Of course, Jar Jar ended up one of the most hated characters in the Star Wars universe, and was scaled back in subsequent movies as there was no need for a “comedic” (or controversial) character– although it’s hard to imagine the same fate would have awaited Jar Jar, had the King of Pop taken the role.

If there was anything that could have saved The Phantom Menace, this would have been it.

[via Rolling Stone]