The great unwashed weren’t the only ones desperate to see TPM 10 years ago. Celebrities also clamored to get first crack at the most anticipated movie ever. Several celebs, including boy band The Backstreet Boys, turned out for the only gala star-studded premiere any of the prequels had in the U.S., which was in New York City. The New York premiere brought out SW newbies Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, and Ahmed Best, as well as SW alum Harrison Ford. Other SW alum were scattered at other premieres around the country, while celebs based out of other U.S. cities, such as ‘NSync, had private showings in their hometowns.
Lucasfilm put on the first of three celebrity-laden, invitation-only shindigs at Skywalker Ranch that were filmed for MTV. Sadly, I never got invited to any of them. But I do recall seeing the TPM show on MTV and there were a bunch of chicks wearing Amidala’s costumes at the event. I also remember seeing Alyssa Milano, who said she’d seen it twice already at various exclusive screenings. According to starwars.com’s report from 1999, other guests included Ozzy Osbourne and his not-yet-famous son Jack, Seth Green, Shannen Doherty, Hanson, actor Barry Pepper, actor Ryan Reynolds (now Mr. Scarlett Johanssen), and Third Eye Blind.
Here’s a clip of the Hanson boys from that special:
