If you’re a die-hard Steven Spielberg fan, you might have spotted a subtle homage to one of his biggest blockbusters in the 2016 musical comedy ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.’
To pull it off, though, actor-comedian Andy Samberg and the remaining two members from The Lonely Island had to reach out to Spielberg himself. The trio asked for an absurdly silly favor, and to their total shock, he said yes.
Why ‘Popstar’ Needed ‘War of the Worlds’ Most Terrifying Sound
H.G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ has inspired countless filmmakers over the years, but few adaptations left a lasting impression like Steven Spielberg’s 2005 version of the same name. Set against the backdrop of post-9/11 America, it offered one of cinema’s most unforgettable scenes.
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The scene in question features an alien tripod erupting from beneath the ground before unleashing an ear-splitting klaxon and devastating masses with its deadly heat rays. That unmistakable sound was carefully crafted by sound designer Michael Babcock.
Reportedly, he combined the sound of two instruments named didgeridoo and djembe to create something that massive, ominous, and deeply unsettling. Somehow, that immediately stood out to Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Shaffer, the comedy trio behind The Lonely Island.
While making their 2016 musical mockumentary ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,’ they decided it would be the perfect addition to one of the film’s most memorable jokes. In the movie, Samberg plays the self-absorbed pop superstar Connor Friel, better known as Connor4Real.
The character always has increasingly absurd ideas for his stage. At one point, he pitches an elaborate robot-style helmet for his DJ and creative partner Owen Bouchard, played by Taccone. Connor excitedly describes the helmet’s features, saying its lighting is “like a Lite Brite, but it’s moving!”
It also shines a massive light that acts like “a beacon to space.” And naturally, Connor insists it should make the exact same sound as the alien tripods from ‘War of the Worlds.’ And they did it by turning to Spielberg when things didn’t work out with others.
Steven Spielberg Ultimately Made The Iconic Joke Happen
According to Jorma Taccone, the idea to use the iconic sound excited every member of The Lonely Island. Speaking to Collider in 2017, he explained, “I really think that was all of us, like collective.”
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But despite agreeing on the gag and even both ‘Popstar’ and ‘War of the Worlds’ being Universal Pictures productions, securing permission for the sound proved to be far more difficult than expected.
“We were immediately shot down by many, many Universal lawyers saying that there’s no way that we could ever get the sound. At that time, we were like, ‘Well, we have to write to Spielberg,’ and we did, and we got his permission,” Taccone recalled.
Though it may seem surprising that legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg would personally approve such a goofy request, he already had another connection with The Lonely Island. He famously appeared as the “director” in one of their Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts, ‘Laser Cats 7.’
The trio later joked that Spielberg’s approval may have been repayment for that earlier collaboration. As Akiva Shaffer laughingly put it, “He got us back for us allowing him out of ‘Laser Cats.'” Spielberg appreciated the joke and his approval allowed one of the funniest gags of ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’ to become a reality.
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