Old Biff’s Deleted Fate in BTTF 2 Explained: Why He Should’ve Vanished

The Back to the Future series often leaves fans puzzled, as numerous discussions arise over intriguing points like whether the hoverboards from Back to the Future Part II are real, the specifics of the time travel regulations in Back to the Future, or if George McFly was aware of Marty’s identity in the initial Back to the Future. Some of these questions were actually contemplated by the creators of this franchise, and there are even a few they planned to address but ultimately didn’t make it into the films.

Discussions about the mechanics of time travel in the Back to the Future trilogy are often frequent, along with questions regarding its influence on the movie’s events. Particularly intriguing is Old Biff’s time traveling, such as whether he altered things in another time by going back, and what ultimately became of him after we last see him.

What Happened To Old Biff In Back To The Future 2 (& Why The Scene Was Cut)

Old Biff Would Have Disappeared

Originally, the screenplay included a scene where Old Biff (played by Thomas F. Wilson at all ages) would meet his fate, but as detailed in ‘Back to the Future FAQ’, this extended sequence was removed from the film. The intention was for Old Biff to trip and disappear from existence after collapsing on the street, much like what almost happened to Marty (Michael J. Fox) in the first ‘Back to the Future’ movie when he was about to be erased from existence. The signs of distress experienced by Old Biff, such as clutching his chest and stumbling, were similar to those exhibited by Marty at that time.

According to Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, their plan for old Biff was that upon returning to 2015, he would cease to exist due to the alteration of his entire future when he gave his younger self the Sports Almanac. They also conjectured about the circumstances that could have led to his disappearance from the timeline, speculating that Lorraine (Lea Thompson) might have shot him at an earlier stage in what would have been his life.

The alteration in this particular scene was made due to the fact that test audiences had trouble following it, as they struggled to comprehend why Old Biff suddenly vanished without a trace. To prevent similar confusion among viewers when the film eventually hit theaters, the production team decided to eliminate this perplexing element from the final cut.

Old Biff Disappearing At The End Of BTTF 2 Would’ve Made Sense And Didn’t Need To Be Cut

Old Biff’s Disappearance Makes Sense With Back To The Future’s Time Travel Rules

In a different phrasing, we could say: Although it might have been hard for test viewers to grasp it initially, the omission of Old Biff from Back to the Future Part II’s timeline could have remained. Given the swiftness with which people would have understood the scene’s implications due to the widespread popularity and in-depth analysis of the Back to the Future franchise, any initial confusion would have been resolved promptly.

In the world of Back to the Future, Old Biff’s vanishing could be perfectly plausible given the time-travel mechanics. This is particularly intriguing when we consider it as a nod to Marty’s own brush with disappearance before he rectified things by altering the timeline in the original film. Neglecting this detail might have added an extra layer of perplexity, as there remains no definitive resolution regarding Old Biff’s fate.

There’s Another Possible Outcome For Old Biff In Back To The Future 2

Old Biff Could Have Had A Heart Attack

In the movie “Back to the Future,” there’s an unconfirmed theory about why Old Biff clutches his chest. Since his disappearance isn’t explicitly shown in the film, some fans suggest that he might have suffered a heart attack instead. The official FAQ for the movie even hints at this possibility, stating it could be due to “the shock of time travel or from something that happened to him in 1955.” However, since the film doesn’t definitively prove Old Biff’s disappearance, it’s more likely than not that he is deceased.

If Old Biff hadn’t vanished from the timeline, it would suggest that his “Back to the Future” backstory remained consistent enough for him to persist. Another possibility is that Old Biff would have eventually disappeared, but it would have taken much longer; however, the shock of the situation overcame him first. Either way, these scenarios imply the demise of Old Biff. Including the scene of his disappearance in “Back to the Future Part II” might have clarified more questions for viewers in the long run than it raised with test audiences.

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2025-04-26 18:57