Back to the Future at 40: The Tale Behind the Cultural Landmark

      Forty years after its debut, we delve into the story behind Back to the Future…

      Back to the Future is a film that won the affection of audiences across the globe with its inventive mix of humor, action, and adventure, along with creative storytelling and unforgettable performances. This film has become a true icon of American cinema, and as it marks its 40th anniversary, we seize the moment to reflect on the behind-the-scenes happenings during its production and more. So, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the journey…

      Script development was a lengthy process

      After their comedy Used Cars was released in 1980, Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis aimed to create a film centered around time travel. Gale came up with the concept during a visit to his parents when he stumbled upon his father's high school yearbook, pondering whether he and his dad would have been friends had they attended high school together. Although Gale believed they would not have been friends, he wanted to explore this notion in his next story. He shared his idea with Zemeckis, who was inspired by the concept, and together they pitched it to Columbia Pictures president Frank Price, who was eager to collaborate with them after enjoying Used Cars. Gale and Zemeckis finished their initial draft on February 21, 1981, but Price was dissatisfied with it and suggested that it needed major revisions. A few months later, when they submitted a second draft, Price remained hesitant about the project and did not give the approval needed to move forward.

      The script faced 44 rejections before being approved

      Despite favorable reviews for 1941, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, and Used Cars, none of them performed well financially. As a result, Gale and Zemeckis were eager to find a project that would succeed, firmly believing that Back to the Future was that project. However, when the project didn’t receive the green light, it was placed in turnaround, allowing other studios the chance to acquire it. Studios were cautious about investing in this intellectual property because previous time travel films like The Final Countdown and Time Bandits had been box office failures. Additionally, Walt Disney was reluctant to produce Back to the Future, deeming the protagonist's struggle against his mother’s advances too inappropriate for their brand.

      Consequently, Gale and Zemeckis’ script was rejected an astonishing 44 times by various studios, and they began to gain a reputation for crafting “scripts that everyone considered fantastic but failed to make into films audiences wanted to see.” The only industry supporter they had was Spielberg, whom Zemeckis had met right out of film school. However, both Gale and Zemeckis were concerned he might also lose faith in them. During this challenging time, fate intervened when influential actor and producer Michael Douglas approached Zemeckis to direct Romancing the Stone, his next project. The success of this film changed Gale and Zemeckis' fortunes, leading to their project being greenlit at Universal Pictures.

      The movie almost lost its original "Back to the Future" title

      Indeed, the movie nearly changed its title due to a suggestion from Universal Pictures head Sid Sheinberg. Although Sheinberg influenced the name changes of Professor Brown to Doc Brown and Marty’s mother from Meg to Lorraine, had Spielberg and others agreed to Sheinberg's idea, the film would have been called "Space Man from Pluto," to connect with the film's Marty-as-an-alien jokes. Fortunately, Spielberg persuaded Sheinberg to reconsider and retain the original title.

      Michael J. Fox was the primary choice for the role of Marty McFly

      When considering Marty McFly, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Michael J. Fox in the role. The producers of Back to the Future felt the same way. However, there was a major obstacle: Fox’s commitment to the hit TV sitcom Family Ties. His co-star Meredith Baxter was pregnant, which meant the show’s producers relied heavily on Fox to keep production on track, complicating the filming of Back to the Future.

      Zemeckis and Gale opted to cast Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, but after four weeks of shooting—approximately 40 minutes of film—they let him go, believing he was not right for the part. The cast and crew were also relieved by this decision, feeling that Stoltz took the role too seriously. Eventually, with Baxter's return, Fox was able to adjust his Family Ties schedule to film the scenes for his character.

      Tom Wilson improvised some of the film's most memorable lines

      Tom Wilson’s portrayal of Biff Tannen serves as the primary antagonist in Back to the Future. This role became a turning point in Wilson’s career, as he reprised it in the sequels Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III, playing both Biff and his descendants, Griff Tannen and Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen. Starting off in stand