Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis has revealed that he is interested in making a newBack to the Futuremovie, though it would have a major twist. Zemeckis helmed all three movies in theBack to the Futuretrilogy, which premiered between 1985 and 1990, following the continued adventures of mad scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and his teenage companion Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox). The trilogy was a massive success, cumulatively earning more than $950 million at the box office, though Zemeckis has previously stated that he has no interest in helming a fourth installment in the franchise.
During an appearance on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast to promote his new film,Here, Zemeckis was asked if there was anything that he’d like to tackle before he retires, such as a genre that he hadn’t worked in before, or an actor that he hadn’t worked with yet. The director responded by saying thathe would like to produceBack to the Future: The Musicalas a feature film, not unlike the filmed version of the Broadway production adapting Mel Brooks’The Producers.
The stage musical version ofBack to the Futureopened in London’s West End in 2021 to rave reviews, receiving the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022. The show moved to Broadway in August 2023, with a national touring production beginning in June of 2024. However, it doesn’t look like the movie adaptation will happen, asZemeckishas already pitched the idea at Universal and “they don’t get it.“Read Zemeckis' full quote below:
I would like to do the Back to the Future, the musical. Just like [Mel] Brooks did The Producers. I would love to do that. I think that would be great… I floated that out to the folks at Universal. They don’t get it. So, nothing I can do.
What A Musical Film Would Mean For Back To The Future
It Would Continue To Expand On The Franchise
It’s widely known that a proper sequel orreboot toBack to the Futureisnot possible without the authorization of Zemeckis and cowriter/producer Bob Gale, both of whom have stated they will never give the go ahead. However, that hasn’t stopped them from fleshing out the franchise.Back to the Future: The Musical, which had music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Gale himself, was not the first time that the films were expanded beyond the original trilogy.
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Back to the Future: The Rideopened at Universal Studios in May 1991. Riders of the simulation ride engaged in a race through time inpursuit of Biff Tannen, who had stolen the Delorean time machine. The ride featured appearances by Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson, reprising their roles from the films.That same year, the Saturday morning cartoonBack to the Future: The Animated Seriesdebuted, continuing the time-traveling adventures of Marty, Doc, and the Brown family. Developed by Gale,The Animated Seriesfeatured voice contributions from Mary Steenburgen and Wilson, and a weekly live-action appearance from Lloyd.
The animated Doc Brown was voiced byThe Simpsons' Dan Castellaneta.
The series was further fleshed out byTelltale’sBack to the Future: The Game, which was released in 2010. Taking place six months afterBack to the Future Part III, the game has Marty traveling to 1931 to rescue Doc, enlisting the help of a reluctant teenage version of Doc to do so. The game features voice work from Lloyd, Wilson, the original Jennifer (Claudia Wells), and even acameo from Michael J. Fox. Additionally, in 2015, IDW launched theBack to the Futurecomic book series, which was overseen and occasionally written by Gale.
There Is Precedent For An Adaptation Of Back To The Future: The Musical
The Movie-Musical-Movie Pipeline Is Still Intact
While ticketbuyers can be fickle in their support of movie musicals, somemajor hits in the genre have come from movies adapting stage musical adaptations of pre-existing IP. While this includes the 2005 movieThe Producers, as referenced in Zemeckis' quote, the 1986 hitLittle Shop of Horrorsexisted in the same space, adapting the Ashman and Menken musical that in turn adapted the 1960 Roger Corman B-movie of the same name.
There could still be room in the modern movie marketplace for a Back to the Future musical adaptation.
This phenomenon has continued into the modern age. Most recently, the2024 movie musicalMean Girlsbecame a success,grossing $104.8 million against its $36 million budget. As that movie was an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical adapting the 2004 teen movie adapting the 2002 self-help bookQueen Bees and Wannabesby Rosalind Wiseman, it has a long IP history that shows there could still be room in the modern movie marketplace for aBack to the Futuremusical adaptation.
Our Take On A Back To The Future Musical Film
It Will Likely Never Happen
TheBack to the Futuremusical opened to good reviews on Broadway and received two Tony nominations — one for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Roger Bart’s portrayal of Doc Brown, and the other for Best Scenic Design of a Musical. It also has a production in Tokyo, as well as upcoming productions in Los Angeles and on a Royal Caribbean cruise. However, hopes for a feature film version of the musical may have been recently squashed with the announcement that the Broadway production will be closing in January 2025 due to low ticket sales after opening in 2023.
Back to the Future
Cast
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
