Back to the Future was released in July 1985 and was the highest-grossing movie in America that year. The film is part one in a trilogy, however, the original intention was never to make more than one as no subsequent films were planned. The second installment follows the events of the first, but instead furthers the concerns to the future rather than to the past. The third and last film, for now at least, shoots the main characters back to the western era, ending the trilogy for the foreseeable future. With the franchise tied up with a seemingly perfect bow, it is hard to imagine what a Back to the Future 4 would even entail.
Allegedly, there were talks that a fourth installment to the franchise had been discussed for years, but never resulted in a new film. From a producer’s standpoint, 2023 is the perfect time to reboot a franchise as cinema seems to be in an age of reboots. However, fans have a different take. Michael J. Fox, who perfectly portrays the film’s lead Marty McFly, won’t return if a fourth film comes to fruition. Fox’s counterpart, Christopher Lylod, also has a questionable return potential since he is now in his mid-80s.
All in all, the plausibility for a successful reboot seems slim. Yet, stranger things have happened in Hollywood. Here’s the scoop on everything that’s been said about the potential Back to the Future 4 over the course of time.
A Foxless Future
Fox's acting career took off in 1978, when he starred in a Canadian sitcom called Leo and Me. A few years later, he was cast in a show called Family Ties, but yearned for a role where he could show off his comedic talents. According to Insider, the actor was filming Teen Wolf when he heard that Spielberg was in the area scouting locations for Back to the Future. As the story goes, the leading role for Marty McFly was open after production decided to replace Eric Stoltz in order to provide more comedic flair for Marty.
Fox, pleased to be presented with Robert Zemeckis' script, landed the role and never looked back. The actor would go on to reprise his role as Marty for two more films, and would be known as the face of a franchise for all time. It is nearly impossible to imagine Back to the Future without Fox, but as talks of an apparent Back to the Future 4 spark, fans just might have to.
Related: Would a Back to the Future Reboot Be as Successful Today?
Almost 40 years after the film's initial release, there has been a great deal of talk about a Back to the Future 4 being added to the franchise. Franchises such as Halloween, Scream, and Top Gun have resurfaced into the mainstream with fresh stories to tell. However, when addressed in 2020 if there was potential for a Back to the Future 4, there seemed to be some hesitance about the franchise's future.
In 1991, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which changed the course of his career. In 2020, he announced that he would be retiring from acting due to his disease. This left fans with the ultimate question: What does that mean for Marty McFly? In an interview with Variety, Fox commented that he doesn't believe a reboot is necessary and believes that they told a full story. These comments, as well as blatant statements, confirmed that if a reboot were to be proposed, Fox would not be a part of it.
Are They "Outtatime?"
The burning question regarding a Back to the Future 4 usually seems to point back to what purpose another film would even serve. According to Screen Crush, Zemeckis claims that a fourth film would have been a guaranteed blockbuster hit, but he just didn't have any ideas on what that film would even look like. Even as a fan, it's hard to picture where the franchise would go. The third film ends with Marty and Doc parting ways, with the latter embarking on a journey by time-traveling train.
Sure, a reboot could focus on one of Marty's relatives, but without Fox's involvement, that might be a hard sell. Back to the Future 4 could also follow in the path of Hocus Pocus 2, where an unknowing teen stumbles upon a broken down Delorean. The potential and possibilities are endless, especially in today's reboot-centric film landscape. Hollywood will pump out just about anything, and capitalizing on nostalgia is a big name in today's game.
Despite the back and forth regarding reboots, fans central to New York City can revisit the story on a whole new platform. Back to the Future: The Musical is showing at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway. The show apparently has glowing reviews, and would be interesting to see how it translates from screen to stage. However, the big question lingering in everyone's mind is will a sequel, requel, or reboot ever happen? The fate lies in the future.
