When it comes to a possible reboot of Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox doesn't have a problem... but he doesn't think it should happen, either.
For a recent cover story for Variety, Fox explained:
"I'm not a fanatical."
"Do what you want. It's your movie."
"I got paid already."
He added he doesn't think the film's director and writer Robert Zemeckis or co-writer Bob Gale would be on board, either.
"I think Bob and Bob have been really smart about that."
"I don't think it needs rebooting because are you going to clarify something? You're going to find a better way to tell the story?"
"I doubt it."
Fox also revealed it was possible there was Hollywood buzz about continuing the story at one point.
"I'm sure somebody thought about it."
"But I was in the early stages of Parkinson's at that point, so I don't know that I would have wanted to take that on."
"Right after 'Part Three' had done well, there might have been conversations about it, but I never got involved in them."
People on social media agreed with Marty McFly on the matter—don't mess with perfection.
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety Back to the Future is a classic that should be left alone.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety I hope not it is one of the greatest trilogies of all time and had a perfect end\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety Unfortunately he\u2019s right. That\u2019s kind of a reflection of what most of Hollywood has become, rebooting old successful franchises because they know it would be an easy pay day versus actually being creative and trying to make new movies.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety Reboots don\u2019t need to be a thing unless the idea is great and the original is absolutely terrible\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety I hope they won't; most of the reboot/sequel/prequel Hollywood produced recently betrayed the source material. I can't imagine how a story about a teenager living in the 2020's and going back to the 90's could be half as good as the original BTTF.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety No thanks. The three originals are perfectly good as is.\n\nYou want a good podcast about the score in Back to the Future, listen to episode 12 of @ArtoftheScore.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety I think it's universally accepted that Back to the Future should be left alone and not have a reboot as it's extremely obvious they won't be able to not only replicate it's charm but make something better.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety It won\u2019t be as good. The series is just well layered and has so many intricacies that allow it to be watched over and over. The character actors are all great with great performances.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety I agree with him. A reboot would be an automatic failure. No shot at it succeeding and you can\u2019t change my mind.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety This is one of the few film trilogies that deserves to be completely untouched\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
\u201c@hollywoodhandle @Variety The Back to the Future trilogy is one the few that should not be touched again. They are timeless classics.\u201d— The Hollywood Handle (@The Hollywood Handle) 1684161419
Fellow Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd acknowledged Fox's position on a reboot, but also wouldn't mind another run as Doc Brown.
"I would love to do a sequel, but I think Bob Zemeckis and [producer Steven] Spielberg felt that they told the story in the three episodes."
"But if somebody has a brilliant idea that would justify a fourth film it might happen."
While you likely won't catch Fox in any new BttF films, you can see him in his documentary Still, in which he discusses everything from the beginning of his career, launch to fame and living with Parkinson's.
Still is available on Apple TV+.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram