Lance Bass Says He'd Pick Darren Criss to Replace Justin Timberlake for *NSYNC Tour: 'He Loves Boy Bands'

Mar. 15, 2025

*NSYNC; Darren Criss.Photo: Tim Roney/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty for Tony Awards Productions

IfLance Basshad to say “Bye Bye Bye” toJustin Timberlakeshould*NSYNCever embark on a reunion tour, he already has a backup in mind.

During an appearance on Monday’s episode of thePod Meets Worldpodcast withDanielle Fishel,Rider StrongandWill Friedle, Fishel asked Bass to dream-cast a stand-in should Timberlake, 41, decide not to do a hypothetical tour with the musical group that also includedJC Chasez,Joey FatoneandChris Kirkpatrick.

“If you guys had to go on the road now as *NSYNC but you were gonna have somebody fill in for Justin — kinda like the wayJohn Mayeris now in the Grateful Dead — who do you think you would choose to be in that role?” asked Fishel, 41.

Responded Bass, 43, “Oh, I know exactly who it would be. He’s really great with harmonies. A lot of people don’t know that he kinda came from, [in] college, he studied music and [he’s] amazing with harmonies:Darren Criss.”

Calling Criss, 35, a “great guy,” Bass added, “He loves boy bands. He’s from that era. He would just be the perfect fit with us.”

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A graduate of the University of Michigan, Criss starred in many a musical stage production throughout his adolescence and made his Broadway debut in 2012, replacingDaniel Radcliffein the revival ofHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Tryingfor a three-week run.

He went on to star inHedwig and the Angry Inchon Broadway, and is currently appearing alongsideLaurence FishburneandSam Rockwellin the Broadway revival of playAmerican Buffalo.

Additionally, Criss received bothEmmyandGolden Globe Awardsfor his role as killerAndrew Cunananin 2018’sThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Meanwhile, Criss and Bass are longtime friends, with the former havingattended the 2014 weddingof Bass and now-husbandMichael Turchin.

RELATED VIDEO: Backstreet Boys Tease Possible Tour with *NSYNC: Fans Would “Lose Their Mind”

And Criss is already versed in at least two *NSYNC songs, having joined Chasez, 46, for a 2018St. Patrick’s Dayshowin which they performedacoustic versions of the group’s early hits “I Want You Back” and “Tearin’ Up My Heart.”

The whole band, including Timberlake,reunited at their Walk of Fame ceremonyin April 2018. Before that, the last time they all got together was forChasez’s 40th birthdayin August 2016.

In April 2019, Fatone, 45, Kirkpatrick, 50, Chasez and Bass alsoreunited onstageduringAriana Grande’s performance atCoachella.

*NSYNC formed in 1995 and became one of the most beloved boy bands ever, rivaling theBackstreet Boys. After they went on theirCelebrity Tourin 2002, which earned nearly $30 million, the group went on a hiatus, which has lasted 20 years.

source: people.com