*NSYNC: There's No Stopping Them

Mention the five magic letters that make up their name and you have millions of girls swooning. Mega popsters *NSYNC have managed the feat of selling a million albums in one day, sold out shows at some of the biggest arenas around America, and stirred up enough press about their issues with their management to make the world forget about the size of Britney's boobs for a while.

And as if all of that isn't enough, the five are planning to delve into the world of film with a feature film slated for next year. The guys recently made an appearance at the Cannes film festival announcing their plans.

With all these things going on with them, are they ever going to have time for Asia? Well we know you all want to know, so MTVAsia.com's Tricia Boey got on the phone with J.C. in the wee hours of the morning last week, to find out exactly what is happening with the guys at the moment, and whether or not they're going to make to Asia any time soon. We think you'll like his answer.

MTVAsia.com: Hey what's up J.C.?

J.C.: Hey man, what's goin' on?

MTVAsia.com: So where're you at right now?

J.C.: I'm calling from Greensborough North Carolina.

MTVAsia.com: On tour?

J.C.: Yup, right smack in the middle of our U.S. tour.

MTVAsia.com: J.C., tell everyone once and for all... When are you guys coming to Asia?

J.C.: I know we're gonna be headed there at the end of August on a promotional tour... I don't know which parts of Asia we're gonna be at, but we'll be there.

MTVAsia.com: So you're on tour at the moment, then coming to Asia. What else do you have planned? Solo projects? Planting the seeds for a new album?

J.C.: Well we're pretty wrapped up with the band right now, touring, then we're going out and doing promotions at the end of August... Then I think we're going back in to the studios for a bit, and then finishing up with our tour around Christmas time... then into next year, we're hoping to finish up the new album, and then, we're planning on shooting a movie.

MTVAsia.com: Yeah we heard about the movie, it's supposed to have a musical slant? So are you guys going "West Side Story" on us now?

J.C.: (laughs) Yeah, that's exactly it... No really, we don't know if it's gonna be a musical, or if it's just gonna have high music content. We're battling it out really. August is the time we're gonna be trying to figure out what we're gonna do. We have a bunch of scripts we're looking at the moment. We'll make the choice in August and then put the team together, 'coz we're planning to be producers and writers in the film as well.

MTVAsia.com: It sounds awfully cool.

J.C.: And the best thing about it is that we're gonna be shooting in IMAX actually, and we'll be sending it worldwide!

MTVAsia.com: Awesome! *NSYNC in 3D!

J.C.: Yeah! It's gonna be a blast!

MTVAsia.com: In Asia right now, we have "Bye Bye Bye," and "It's Gonna Be Me." What's your next single?

J.C.: Most likely, it's gonna be "This I Promise You," we just recorded an up-tempo version, and we're gonna be doing a Spanish version next week which is exciting 'coz we've never recorded anything in Spanish. We'll be doing two videos for it as well. It's going to be a big one for us.

MTVAsia.com: You guys fluent in Spanish?

J.C.: Chris is pretty good.... the rest of us... we're gonna be struggling. (laughs)

MTVAsia.com: And Kim Smith, who was in the first two videos, is she gonna be in this one too?

J.C.: Who knows? We haven't really talked about the video yet... we have ideas, but we haven't talked about the love interest and everything. We wouldn't be surprised though, 'coz we all really like her, and it'll be kind of cool to have her back 'coz then we'll be doing with her what Aerosmith did with Alicia Silverstone. And it creates for an interesting vid too.

MTVAsia.com: So is anyone in the group dating her?

J.C.: No no no, nothing like that.

MTVAsia.com: Okay, we'll take your word for it. So, how did the collaboration with Left Eye Lopez from TLC come about on "No Strings?"

J.C.: Well actually, I recorded a song with a group that she discovered called Black Ivory, and when I sang on that song, she goes "now I'm gonna have to hook you up... one of these days we'll get together." Sure enough the opportunity presented itself on this new album, and she hopped on board! This girl is doing a little bit of everything with everybody, I'm tellin' ya.

MTVAsia.com: It sure seems like it... Okay, now you guys have a crazy market out there for merchandise. But did you guys really give the approval for *NSYNC lip balm recently?

J.C.: We're actually shutting the lip balm thing down, 'coz it wasn't us who okayed it. And as far as ideas for merchandise, we all kind of play a part in it... the people will tell us like "this is what the Rolling Stones do, this is what these other people are doing... what do you want to do?" So we talk and come with stuff.

MTVAsia.com: So how have the critics been treating you lately?

J.C.: Actually, we've been getting pretty good reviews, and we're pretty proud of our show.

MTVAsia.com: Yeah, give us a summary of what goes down in your show 'coz no one here has seen it.

J.C.: You know what? You're gonna see it on IMAX too, 'coz that's how we're gonna be getting it to the rest of the world. But I would say it's probably THE most action packed show out there. We don't do a lot of slow songs, we so a lot of fast songs, it's about an hour and a half to an hour and forty minutes long.

MTVAsia.com: So do you guys do the whole Toy Story thing in there?

J.C.: Well we didn't really do the Toy Story thing in there, but there are plenty of gags, trust me! (laughs) I mean I would say every song has some sort of illusion, or something like that to take you to the next level. It's fast, it's furious, it's like a fireball flying right at you.

MTVAsia.com: Okay now, the lowdown... who's dating, who's single. The people want to know.

J.C.: Right now, Chris and I are dating some people.

MTVAsia.com: Uh huh, and?

J.C.: (laughs) What else do you want? Okay, I don't wanna say their names 'coz they could get harassed and stuff, and not only that, it's not like serious or anything. People take everything so seriously. Dating is just dating, it doesn't have to be serious all the time... but, I think that's about it. The other guys are just kinda running around.

MTVAsia.com: And you must be so sick about this by now, but I'll have to ask you to say something about the whole Justin-Britney thing.

J.C.: You're right, we are kind of sick of it, but yeah, they dated a bit when they were kids. Later in life, they see each other again, they go for a date or two... and it all gets blown way out of proportion... they're not a couple, and they both see other people.

MTVAsia.com: Finally, how have you guys grown since starting out?

J.C.: Well, we've ridden a roller coaster of the music business, you know... from getting discovered to being sued. We've kind of ridden the ride out... and now we're enjoying being on top for a little while. We know there's gonna be another dip somewhere, but I think we're a lot wiser, and I think we have a little bit of knowledge for anybody else who's trying to do this thing, so we can pass on knowledge like who to listen to, and who not to... we've definitely become more business savvy, and that's a good thing.