34 Years After Back To The Future, Michael J Fox Made Another Time Travel Sci-Fi Nobody Remembers

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Deciding who the greatest science fiction actors are is tough. Sigourney Weaver definitely deserves consideration, thanks to her iconic role in the Alien series and later in James Cameron’s Avatar films. Arnold Schwarzenegger is also a strong contender, starring in the hugely popular Terminator and Predator franchises. But being in multiple successful films shouldn’t be the only requirement, because that would unfairly exclude Michael J. Fox. The Back to the Future movies are a classic example of great science fiction – they took a complex idea and made it fun and accessible for everyone.

Michael J. Fox is best known for playing Marty McFly in all three Back to the Future movies, where his high school character gets into some seriously complicated situations with Doc Brown and a time-traveling DeLorean. But Fox hasn’t limited himself to that iconic role; he’s continued acting and even provided voice work, recently appearing in Zootopia 2. However, he considers a lesser-known 2019 science fiction film his most heartfelt tribute to the Back to the Future legacy.

Michael J. Fox Gave Time Travel Another Go Three Decades After Back to the Future

I was so excited when I heard 40 Acres and a Mule, Spike Lee’s company, started working with Stefon Bristol on turning his short film, See You Yesterday, into a full movie. They were looking for fresh faces for the leads – the story centers on high school students, so it made sense. But then they needed someone to play a mentor, someone who could really sell the idea of time travel, and honestly, there was no one better than Michael J. Fox for that role!

The movie See You Yesterday follows C.J. and her friend Bash as they build a time machine for a school project, hoping to win scholarships. Despite their teacher’s warnings about the dangers of time travel, they proceed and travel to the past repeatedly, which ultimately leads to a devastating outcome. The film takes a much more serious and somber turn than classics like Back to the Future, but still allows actor Michael J. Fox to engage in some time-travel adventures of his own.

Mr. Lockhart Asks the Right Questions in See You Yesterday

C.J. asked Mr. Lockhart to raise her grade on her final presentation, worried that judges at an upcoming science expo would be unimpressed by anything less than an A. Lockhart, however, felt she should focus more on the project itself, not the grade. He also expressed serious concerns about the dangers of time travel and struggled to believe it was even possible. The conversation became so strange that Lockhart jokingly exclaimed, “Time travel. Great Scott!” – a reference to Back to the Future. This line highlighted a key difference in how the two projects approached the idea of time travel, as delivered by the actor.

Lockhart isn’t thrilled about time travel – he’s actually scared of it, and he turns out to be right to be. When C.J. travels back in time, she makes a series of errors with devastating consequences, ultimately leading to her brother’s death. While Marty McFly faces challenges, C.J.’s struggles are far more severe, and Doc Brown isn’t helping matters. Lockhart represents a contrasting viewpoint, and it’s painful to see his warnings fade from C.J.’s thoughts as the story unfolds.

See You Yesterday is streaming on Netflix.

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2025-12-03 21:41