The members of The Lonely Island funded the penis scene in Popstar themselves.

      It can now be disclosed that a key scene in the Lonely Island's film *Popstar*, where former Style Boyz members Conner and Lawrence have a tense reunion while a fan presses his penis against their limousine window, was financed by the Lonely Island team themselves.

      Co-director Akiva Schaffer revealed this detail during a Q&A with Oscar-winning director and Lonely Island admirer Daniel Scheinert, who is part of the directing duo known as The Daniels. *Popstar* follows Andy Samberg as connor4real, an arrogant pop star who has abandoned his partners in the pop trio Style Boys, portrayed by Samberg’s Lonely Island collaborators, Schaffer and Taccone, the other director of *Popstar*.

      The Q&A, released this week on The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, was recorded in April for a 10th anniversary screening of *Popstar* (officially titled *Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping*), a comedic masterpiece chronicling conner4real’s rise, fall, and resurgence.

      In a pivotal scene, Taccone’s character Owen orchestrates a reunion between Conner and Lawrence, played by Schaffer, in the back of a limousine. Samberg and Schaffer perform the scene with serious dramatic intent, even as a fan’s penis demands their attention.

      Regarding the origins of the Popstar penis scene, Schaffer explained its significance in enhancing the film’s overall effect, despite its silliness.

      On the *The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast*, the Lonely Island team and Meyers reflect on the creative process behind their works, including well-known pieces like “D— in a Box,” “I Just Had Sex,” and “Lazy Sunday,” while also discussing projects that didn't meet their expectations.

      Although *Popstar* was a box office failure, it has garnered a dedicated fan base that enjoys its clever-ludicrous gems like “Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)” and “Legalize It.” Additionally, it serves as a remarkable time capsule of 2010s pop culture, featuring appearances from stars like Pink and Akon.

      Schaffer informed Scheinert that while reviewing early cuts of the film, they sensed a drop in energy around the middle. They sought guidance from their producer, Judd Apatow.

      “Judd suggested that at that point, the audience would want to see the dynamic between you guys — to explore the main relationship in the film,” Schaffer recounted.

      Thus, four or five months after finishing the primary shoot, they independently financed a new scene featuring the limousine and the comedic penis.

      “We thought, ‘Let’s set it in a limo and have around 20 extras crowding it,’” Schaffer said. “We had learned from test screenings that the more outrageous the film became, the better the audience responded, which encouraged us to embrace that wildness. We probably wouldn’t have had the courage to include something like this in the original script.”

      Scheinert chimed in: “I find it amusing that you told the studio, ‘We need to shoot this scene.’”

      Schaffer replied, “To be completely honest, we funded it ourselves. We were out of budget, and we wanted the film to be good, so Judd and we contributed.”

      He humorously noted that casting the actor for the penis made his emails "a scary place," as his inbox was inundated with pictures. However, he approached the casting seriously to ensure they found the perfect fit.

      “It can’t just come off as a joke layered on top of other jokes,” Schaffer said.

      “The punchline isn’t that it’s an odd penis,” Scheinert remarked. “The punchline is simply that it’s a penis.”

      This discussion led to some entertaining moments that can be enjoyed in the full podcast episode, which is certainly worth listening to.

      Main image: Andy Samberg as Conner and Akiva Schaffer as Lawrence have a tense reunion in *Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.* Universal Pictures.