Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis has said that he is interested in producing a feature film version of Back to the Future: The Musical, which is based on Zemeckis' 1985 classic, Back to the Future. The stage musical version of Back to the Future opened in London's West End in 2021 to rave reviews, receiving the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022. The show moved to Broadway in August 2023, with a national touring production beginning in June of 2024.
On an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast to promote his new film, Here, Zemeckis was asked if there was anything that he'd like to tackle before he retires, such as a genre that he hadn't worked in before, or an actor that he hadn't worked with yet. The director responded by saying that he would like to produce Back to the Future: The Musical as a feature film, not unlike the filmed version of the Broadway production of Mel Brooks' The Producers. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will happen. Here's what he had to say about it:
I would like to do the Back to the Future, the musical. Just like [Mel] Brooks did The Producers. I would love to do that. I think that would be great… I floated that out to the folks at Universal. They don't get it. So, nothing I can do.
What A Musical Film Would Mean For Back To The Future
It Would Continue To Expand On The Franchise
It's widely known that a proper sequel or reboot to Back to the Future is not possible without the authorization of Zemeckis and cowriter/producer Bob Gale, both of whom have stated they will never give the go ahead. However, that hasn't stopped them from fleshing out the franchise. Back to the Future: The Musical was not the first time that the films were expanded beyond the original trilogy.
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Back to the Future: The Ride opened at Universal Studios in May of 1991. Riders of the simulation ride engaged in a race through time in pursuit of Biff Tannen, who has stolen the Delorean time machine. The ride featured appearances by Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson, reprising their roles from the films. Later that year saw the Saturday morning cartoon, Back to the Future: The Animated Series, which continued the time-traveling adventures of Marty, Doc, and the Brown family. Developed by Gale, The Animated Series featured voice contributions from Mary Steenburgen and Wilson, and a weekly live-action appearance from Lloyd.
The series was further fleshed out byTelltale's Back to the Future: The Game, which was released in 2010. Taking place six months after Back to the Future Part III, the game has Marty traveling to 1931 to rescue Doc, enlisting the help of a reluctant teenage version of Doc to do so. The game features voice work from Lloyd, Wilson, the original Jennifer (Claudia Wells), and even a cameo from Michael J. Fox. Additionally, in 2015, IDW launched the Back to the Future comic book series, which was overseen and occasionally written by Gale.
Our Take On A Back To The Future Musical Film
It Will Likely Never Happen
Back to the Future: The Musical opened to good reviews on Broadway and received two Tony nominations — one for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Roger Bart's portrayal of Doc Brown, and the other for Best Scenic Design of a Musical. The musical also has a production in Tokyo, as well as a production on an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise ship. However, any hopes for a feature film version of the musical were likely recently squashed with the announcement that the Broadway production will be closing in January 2025 due to low ticket sales.
Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown. In 1955, he meets his parents when they were his age, and must step in to make sure they wind up together before he gets back to 1985.
Director Robert Zemeckis
Release Date July 3, 1985
Studio(s) Universal Pictures
Distributor(s) Universal Pictures
Writers Robert Zemeckis , Bob Gale
Cast Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson
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English (US) ·