10 Shocking Secrets About Back to the Future You Never Knew!

Immediately upon the initial release of the “Back to the Time” film, it immediately gained popularity. With nominations for Golden Globes and Oscars, it went on to win multiple awards and swiftly became a timeless classic. The franchise shattered records, was considered a groundbreaking achievement in sci-fi, received a Broadway musical adaptation, is rumored to get a spinoff, and remains cherished by many today. Even newer generations find themselves captivated by the legendary time-travel narrative. “Back to the Time” is simply one of those films that everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime, and its charm never fades away.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the initial movie release, and there are quite a few who remain unaware of the immense efforts that went into bringing its tale to fruition. Among the intriguing tidbits from behind the scenes, certain facts truly highlight the production’s tumultuous journey – filled with hurdles, as well as some unexpected twists.

The First Movie Had a Different Ending

In my opinion, crafting a compelling conclusion isn’t always straightforward, and “Back to the Future” was no exception; it underwent numerous modifications throughout its production process. The final version we watched on screen varied significantly from the initial concept, which featured George McFly (Crispin Glover) in the ’80s discovering a 1955 newspaper showing his son Marty (Michael J. Fox) performing “Johnny B. Goode” at the school dance. Stunned, he would begin to utter, “It can’t be. But it is…” – and that would have been how the movie ended.

A less predictable and engaging finale could have been crafted, one that intriguingly left things unresolved while also hinting at a future installment. Although the motivation behind this shift isn’t explicitly stated, it’s understood that director Robert Zemeckis introduced the idea of a flying DeLorean as a humorous touch. However, if he believed this meant ruling out a sequel, he certainly erred in that assumption.

There Were No Plans for a Franchise

Initially, Back to the Future wasn’t intended to become a legendary franchise; rather, its enduring status is a pleasant surprise. The climactic scene, though amusing and setting up a sequel, was originally designed to conclude the story neatly. The time-travel adventure was essentially a playful exploration of what it would be like to have a time machine in one’s garage. If you’ve watched the movie on home video, you might have spotted the “To be continued” message at the end, but that wasn’t part of the initial theater release; it was added only for the VHS version.

Initially, it was thought that directors Zemeckis and Gale had long envisioned sequels for “Back to the Future.” However, contrary to popular belief, “Back to the Future Part II” and “Back to the Future Part III” were not originally planned; instead, they came about due to the unforeseen success of the initial film. This is supported by several hints, as the writers themselves revealed later on – such as the character of Jennifer (played by Elisabeth Shue) whose role in the story suggests it was added after the first movie’s success.

The Script Was Different for Time Travel

At the core of “Back to the Future” lies time travel, with the DeLorean serving as its famous time machine. However, this wasn’t always part of the plan. Instead, Marty McFly (Christopher Lloyd) and Doc Brown had an entirely different method for returning the boy to the future. Their scheme involved a complicated burglary at a nuclear power plant, aiming to steal plutonium to fuel the time machine. This was quite distinct from the final version, which showcased Doc scaling the clock tower to capture a lightning bolt. Interestingly, the film wasn’t initially named “Back to the Future” – its original title was “Spaceman From Pluto.” Fortunately, producer Steven Spielberg intervened and nixed that idea.

The plan for the entire nuclear power plant scene in the movie was discarded because it didn’t align with the film’s narrative. Additionally, Gale shared that they had initially thought about including a nuclear blast that would obliterate a nearby city, but this idea was promptly dropped due to its high cost. Moreover, the time machine wasn’t originally intended to be a DeLorean; instead, it was supposed to be a refrigerator – a concept that wouldn’t have been as effective. In summary, several unconventional ideas were considered before settling on the final design for the movie.

The Franchise Faced Behind-the-Scenes Problems

Producing a movie is never straightforward, especially when numerous individuals contribute to its creation. Unanticipated incidents and disagreements are likely to occur, and the film “Back to the Future” experienced some of these issues. One of the disputes that surfaced during production concerned actress Melora Hardin, who was initially cast as Marty’s girlfriend in the initial movie. At 17 years old, she was dismissed from the role after expressing unease with director Zemeckis’ guidance, attributing it to creative differences.

In the sequels, Actor Crispin Glover – known for his role as George McFly – wasn’t involved due to conflicts in terms and creativity. To compensate, Jeffrey Weissman was cast to mimic the character’s traits and resemble Glover, with the aid of prosthetics. However, Glover felt this was an unauthorized portrayal of him, leading to a lawsuit against the producers. Though he received compensation, the ordeal left a long-term, damaging mark on his career.

The Timing of a Scene Matches Doc Brown’s Dialogue

What sets “Back to the Future” apart is its extraordinary level of precision, a trait that’s evident even in the smallest details. An instance of this can be seen in the first movie during the scene where Doc Brown informs Marty about when lightning will strike the clock tower. He provides an exact window of 7 minutes and 22 seconds for Marty to get back to the future. What makes this remarkable is that if you calculate it, the lightning indeed strikes exactly 7 minutes and 22 seconds after Doc’s warning.

As a devoted fan of cinema, I can’t help but appreciate the finer points that set “Back to the Future” apart. It’s not merely its captivating narrative that earns it such adoration; it’s also brimming with intricate details that reveal the meticulous thought poured into each and every scene. These subtle yet brilliant nuances don’t just polish the script, they also deepen the immersive experience, making the journey through this timeless tale even more engaging.

The Story Got Rejected Several Times

Initially, Columbia Pictures considered the concept for “Back to the Future“, but ultimately decided against it. In an attempt to move forward, Zemeckis and Gale presented the script to Steven Spielberg, who was captivated by it. As quoted in “All the Right Movies“, he found it to be “an unusual story, but one based on traditional themes like family, growing up, dreams, and desires, as well as the generation gap. It was truly fantastic.

Initially, the filmmaker proposed that Amblin Entertainment would produce the project, but Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale were hesitant to appear as individuals who could only secure movie deals due to a well-known connection. Consequently, the script circulated extensively in Hollywood, facing a staggering 44 rejections before Universal Studios finally showed interest. Some production companies dismissed it as overly sentimental, excessively intimate, and even argued that time travel films don’t generate profits. Isn’t it ironic? (This version aims to be more conversational and engaging while maintaining the original meaning.)

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd Almost Didn’t Star in the Franchise

It’s widely acknowledged that there wouldn’t be a “Back to the Future” as we know it without Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. They are the recognizable figures of this franchise, but during the initial casting process, one of them faced scheduling issues, while the other initially declined the role upon reading the script.

Initially, Zemeckis wanted Michael J. Fox to play Marty, but since he was occupied with the television series “Family Ties” at the moment, he wasn’t available to work on the movie. Consequently, scenes with Eric Stoltz can be found online. Other actors like John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, Ralph Macchio, and Johnny Depp also tried out for the role, but none of them got it. Initially cast, Eric Stoltz worked on the film for a month before being replaced in the project. However, Zemeckis didn’t give up and eventually managed to secure Fox, with the condition that he wouldn’t disrupt his work on “Family Ties”. As a result, Fox had to balance working on both shows, managing only three hours of sleep per night for two months.

Regarding Lloyd, his tale took an unusual turn. At first, he had strong disdain for the storyline. However, Producer Neil Canton suggested him for the role of Doc Brown. Despite this, Lloyd, who wanted to be taken seriously as an actor, dismissed the script, thinking that Back to the Future wouldn’t aid his career. It took Zemeckis sharing his vision for the character to change Lloyd’s mind. Once he became receptive to the idea, Lloyd proposed blending Albert Einstein’s quirks with Leopold Stokowski’s mannerisms to create Doc’s personality – a concept that instantly appealed to the director.

Back to the Future is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

2025-03-20 22:12