Despite all that, Bass says he won't use his pop-star status to promote the film further: He vetoed any ''starring Lance from 'N Sync'' references in posters, trailers, and TV ads. ''I really want this to stand on its own,'' he says. ''I explained [to Miramax] that our fans are not stupid. They're going to know that's me.'' The studio concurred. ''There really is a huge danger in going out and saying this is just an 'N Sync movie,'' says David Brooks, Miramax's cohead of marketing. ''That just narrows the film. Everybody agreed from the get-go, a little 'N Sync goes the distance.''

Whether or not On the Line is a success, it's clear Bass is hooked on Hollywood. He recently auditioned for the upcoming Reese Witherspoon comedy Sweet Home Alabama (he was deemed too young for the part), and A Happy Place has more projects in development (including Shooting From the Heart, a basketball drama based on an article by Tuesdays With Morrie author Mitch Albom). And fans of The WB's series 7th Heaven may see Bass reprise his role as Beverly Mitchell's beau in future episodes. But Bass' ultimate Hollywood ambition is markedly less wholesome: He wants to die in a horror movie, ideally by Freddy Krueger's razored hand. ''The way I look at it,'' says Bass, ''half the people want to see me in a movie, and half the people want to see me die. So I think everybody will be happy.''

Originally posted Oct 26, 2001 Published in issue #622 Oct 26, 2001 Order article reprints
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