Back to the Future Creator Wants To Adapt the Stage Musical

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As a die-hard Back to the Future fan who has grown up with Marty McFly and Doc Brown, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when I hear about Robert Zemeckis’s desire to bring the musical version of our beloved time-travel trilogy to the big screen. Having watched the original films countless times since their release, I must admit that the idea of a singing and dancing Doc and Marty is a bit hard to wrap my head around.

Almost 35 years have passed since the Back to the Future trilogy ended with its third installment in the time-travel series, and if director Robert Zemeckis had his preference, he would like to make another film – though not one that fans are eagerly demanding. Zemeckis was at the helm of all three movies starring Michael J. Fox in the science fiction franchise, which started with Back to the Future in 1985 and concluded in 1990. Since then, there has been a 26-episode animated series and a short film titled Doc Brown Saves the World, included on the DVD and Blu-ray 30th anniversary sets released in 2015.

On a chat with Josh Horowitz during the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zemeckis expressed his thoughts about the future of the Back to the Future series. Although he’s previously declared that he would prevent any remakes or reboots of the original series, the director mentioned his enthusiasm for the possibility of creating a full-length film based on Back to the Future: The Musical, which debuted at the Manchester Opera House in England in 2020 and is currently touring North America. However, it seems that Universal isn’t particularly fond of the idea, leaving Zemeckis – and perhaps us as well – a bit disappointed.

I’ve been dreaming about bringing ‘Back to the Future’ to life as a musical, similar to how Mel Brooks created ‘The Producers.’ It’s something I’m genuinely excited about. I floated this idea to Universal Studios, but it seems they haven’t quite grasped the concept yet. Unfortunately, there’s not much I can do in this situation.

In essence, “Back to the Future: The Musical,” modeled after the first film in the trilogy, offers a variety of fresh tunes along with some familiar ones like “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Although the Manchester show received positive reviews from critics, its Broadway premiere in 2023 encountered a mix of feedback, even though it was nominated for two Tony Awards. Contrary to what fans might have anticipated about the franchise’s future, it seems not quite what they were hoping for. It’s worth mentioning that “The Producers,” which Zemeckis referred to in his response, struggled financially, earning just $38 million despite a production budget of $45 million, explaining why Universal is hesitant to greenlight it.

Will There Ever Be A Back to the Future 4?

While numerous people consider the initial “Back to the Future” as an exceptional film, its sequels haven’t maintained the same level of success over time. They are enjoyable in their own right, but they can’t compare to the enchantment of the original movie, which was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but ultimately won only the award for Best Sound Effects Editing.

Regarding potential future installments of the franchise, Zemeckis suggested fans might not hold their breath, although he left open the possibility for a new venture with the series in the future, perhaps a spin-off. This is primarily because of Fox’s health issues, as he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. Both Fox and co-writer Bob Gale have stated they wouldn’t create another sequel without Michael J. Fox, but Universal continues to express interest in collaborating with Zemeckis on the project every six months, he humorously noted.

Nope, it’s not as extreme as they make it seem. When people ask if we can find a solution for this situation, we certainly can, but to imply that a new movie is being made or there will be a Back to the Future 4 is simply wishful thinking. It’s not going to happen.

It’s likely that’s the ideal scenario since a “Back to the Future” film without Fox would be merely a shadow of its original self. As for musical numbers, I’d rather keep them confined to the stage where they truly shine.

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2024-11-05 00:03