Back to the Future is one of the most beloved trilogies of all time, with the time-traveling franchise being a staple of the '80s. Released in 1985, the original Back to the Future is one of the best 1980s movies of all time, and also one of the greatest time travel movies of all time, cementing itself in pop culture history forever. All three films in the Back to the Future trilogy put the time travel concept to great use, and the film's unique time machine, the DeLorean, is arguably the most iconic movie car of all time.
Despite the trilogy's massive popularity, Back to the Future 4 never happened, and a reboot seems unlikely, given that creators Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale don't want it to happen. Still, it's okay to want to see another installment in the Back to the Future franchise, and a certain concept trailer for a possible Back to the Future 4 has me desperately wishing it would happen.
Back To The Future 4's Concept Trailer Explained
An Absolutely Epic Concept Trailer
The YouTube channel, Smasher, created a concept trailer for what a Back to the Future 4 film might look like, and it makes me wish that there was another installment on the horizon. Pulling footage from a variety of other sources, including movies and shows, the Back to the Future 4 concept trailer is simply epic. Focusing on the power and possibilities of time travel, with footage of Michael J. Fox from the 2019 film See You Yesterday talking about the concept, fits perfectly with the other footage in the trailer, tapping into that legacy sequel feeling.
Perhaps the best part of the concept trailer created by Smasher is just seeing Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, no matter where the footage comes from. These two characters are beloved, and just the idea of seeing them together again in Back to the Future 4 is something special. Of course, it is always a good time seeing the DeLorean make an appearance. Great Scott, it's a fantastic concept trailer.
What Are The Chances Of More Back To The Future?
Hollywood Loves To Tap Into Nostalgia
If there is one thing that Hollywood is constantly trying to do, it is to tap into nostalgia, drawing from the most popular movies from decades ago. This idea has been seen with numerous other franchises over the years. Alien just had a fantastic installment, Scream was successfully "rebooted" for a while, and The Lord of the Rings continues to get new projects. There are so many more examples as well, and I feel like it's only a matter of time before Back to the Future continues in some form, whether a true sequel or a brand-new reboot.
The concept of a reboot has popped up in discourse over the years, and while that may give the story a fresh slate, it feels impossible to live up to the original trilogy's legacy, no matter how good it might be.
Continuing the Back to the Future franchise is tricky, though, given the cultural footprint it has left in Hollywood and the concept of the franchise itself. The concept of a reboot has popped up in discourse over the years, and while that may give the story a fresh slate, it feels impossible to live up to the original trilogy's legacy, no matter how good it might be. On an episode of the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, director Robert Zemeckis said that Universal does check in every once in a while about him doing a sequel, which could be much better.
Why Back To The Future 4 Would Be Better Than A Reboot
Legacy Sequels Are More Successful
2015 felt to me like a monumental moment for older franchises returning with fantastic new installments, with the idea of the legacy sequel. Star Wars: The Force Awakens showed how incredibly successful the idea can be, and studios all wanted in on it. Since then, there have been some incredible legacy sequels, with movies like The Matrix, Top Gun, Blade Runner, and even The Karate Kid all getting new projects, with the original stars returning while hoping to appeal to a new demographic. Making a Back to the Future 4 could tap into that same concept.
A certain DeLorean plays a massive role in Back to the Future, but Marty McFly’s Toyota is actually one of the best movie trucks of all time.
If the right story could be found for Back to the Future 4, continuing the franchise would be a much better idea than rebooting, given how beloved the characters are within pop culture history. Of course, with Michael J. Fox retiring from acting back in 2020, it might prove difficult to continue without Marty McFly at the helm. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, though, Fox opened up about the possibility of returning to acting under the right circumstances, saying, "if something came up that I could put my realities into it — my challenges — if I could figure it out."
Michael J. Fox doesn't owe fans of the franchise anything, but if he thinks that there is something there, it would be a welcome addition to the franchise. On the other hand, co-star Christopher Lloyd has expressed interest in making another movie, tellingVariety that, "I would love to do a sequel... if somebody has a brilliant idea that would justify a fourth film it might happen." In the end, if there ever is another installment in the Back to the Future franchise, a sequel should be the first priority before a remake.
"Back to the Future" is a science fiction adventure franchise that follows the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown. Created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the series is known for its clever use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic DeLorean time machine. The franchise explores themes of causality, destiny, and the impact of individual actions on the future. Its blend of humor, heart, and innovative storytelling has made it a beloved classic in film history.
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