WHAT WENT WRONG

Back To The Future

September 15, 2025

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  • Back to the Future's development was a long and arduous process, involving numerous script revisions, studio rejections, and casting near-misses, highlighting the iterative nature of filmmaking. 
  • The film's initial drafts were significantly darker and more raunchy than the final product, reflecting the economic anxieties and cultural shifts of the early 1980s. 
  • Despite initial studio skepticism and a challenging production timeline, the collaborative efforts of Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and Steven Spielberg, along with key casting decisions, ultimately led to the creation of a beloved cinematic classic. 
  • The casting of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly was ultimately rejected due to his performance not aligning with the comedic tone desired for the film, leading to a costly but ultimately successful recasting with Michael J. Fox. 
  • The iconic DeLorean time machine's design and its eventual selection were driven by a combination of aesthetic appeal, symbolic irony of a failed future car, and practical considerations for filming. 
  • Back to the Future's seemingly perfect structure and iconic elements were largely the result of extensive rewriting and iterative changes throughout pre-production, production, and editing, demonstrating the collaborative and evolving nature of filmmaking. 
  • The seemingly perfect structure of "Back to the Future" was a result of extensive and often desperate rewrites driven by budget cuts and tonal adjustments, highlighting film as an iterative and collaborative medium. 
  • The Bobs' ability to continuously rewrite and improve the script across multiple versions demonstrates the crucial role of perseverance and self-awareness in the filmmaking process. 
  • The inclusion of a dog, suggested by Sid Sheinberg, was a smart narrative choice that significantly increased audience emotional investment compared to a chimpanzee. 

Segments

Early Bob’s Beginnings
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(00:08:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale met at USC, bonding over a shared desire to make entertaining, commercial films, which laid the foundation for their future collaboration.
  • Summary: This segment details the initial meeting and shared philosophy of Zemeckis and Gale at USC, their early career aspirations, and their first attempts at breaking into the industry with spec scripts and television work.
The “1941” Setback
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(00:14:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The Bobs’ first major studio film, ‘1941,’ directed by Steven Spielberg, was a critical and commercial disappointment, highlighting the risks of ambitious projects and the challenges of genre blending.
  • Summary: This section covers the Bobs’ involvement with John Milius and Steven Spielberg on the film ‘1941,’ its troubled production, its eventual failure at the box office, and how this setback impacted their careers.
Developing the Time Travel Concept
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(00:24:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The core concept for Back to the Future, involving a teenager going back to high school with his parents, was inspired by Bob Gale’s personal reflection on his father’s past and a desire to explore generational dynamics.
  • Summary: This segment delves into the genesis of the Back to the Future idea, stemming from Bob Gale’s visit to his hometown and his contemplation of his parents’ youth, and how this personal insight became the film’s central hook.
Casting Marty McFly
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(00:44:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael J. Fox was the ideal choice for Marty McFly, but his unavailability due to ‘Family Ties’ led to extensive casting, with Eric Stoltz ultimately being chosen before being replaced by Fox.
  • Summary: This part of the discussion focuses on the casting process for Marty McFly, the initial preference for Michael J. Fox, the challenges posed by his TV commitments, the consideration of other actors like Eric Stoltz, and the eventual successful casting of Fox.
Eric Stoltz Casting Issues
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(00:51:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Eric Stoltz’s more serious, less comedic approach to Marty McFly clashed with the desired tone of Back to the Future, leading to his eventual replacement despite significant footage being shot.
  • Summary: This segment details the initial casting of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, the concerns raised by Spielberg and Zemeckis about his performance not fitting the comedic needs of the film, and the eventual decision to replace him.
Michael J. Fox’s Casting
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(00:54:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael J. Fox’s casting was a last-minute decision driven by his comedic timing and ability to balance zaniness with grounded reactions, despite the logistical challenges of filming two shows simultaneously.
  • Summary: The discussion covers Michael J. Fox’s initial hesitation and eventual acceptance of the role, the demanding schedule he maintained, and how his performance became crucial to the film’s success and tone.
DeLorean Time Machine Design
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(01:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The DeLorean was chosen as the time machine for its unique aesthetic, the ironic symbolism of a failed ‘car of the future,’ and practical considerations for filming, evolving from an initial concept of a refrigerator.
  • Summary: This segment explores the origins of the DeLorean as the time machine, the initial concept of a nuclear-powered refrigerator, and the various reasons behind the final choice of the DeLorean, including its visual appeal and the story behind its acquisition and modification for filming.
Crispin Glover’s Departure
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(01:27:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Crispin Glover’s refusal to return for Back to the Future Parts 2 and 3 due to creative differences and salary disputes led to the controversial use of prosthetics and archival footage to replicate his character, George McFly.
  • Summary: This part of the conversation delves into why Crispin Glover did not reprise his role as George McFly in the sequels, the legal and ethical implications of using another actor with prosthetics to portray him, and the resulting lawsuit.
Rewriting as a Creative Force
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(01:42:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The perceived structural perfection of “Back to the Future” was achieved through extensive, iterative rewrites driven by practical constraints, demonstrating that film is a process of continuous refinement rather than a fully formed initial concept.
  • Summary: This segment discusses how “Back to the Future” was not always a perfect movie and that many of its classic elements were born from desperate changes due to budget cuts or tonal issues, emphasizing the film’s constant rewriting during pre-production, production, and editing.
Narrative Engine and Dog’s Impact
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(01:43:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Shifting Marty’s disruption of his parents’ relationship to the midpoint of the film provided a much-needed narrative engine, and the decision to use a dog instead of a chimpanzee was a smart choice that enhanced audience emotional connection.
  • Summary: The discussion highlights an early draft where Marty didn’t disrupt his parents’ relationship until the midpoint, creating a lack of drive in the first act. It also praises Sid Sheinberg’s suggestion to use a dog, noting its effectiveness in generating audience care.
Podcast Support and Next Episode
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(01:44:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can support the podcast through various actions, including sharing, reviewing, subscribing, and engaging with Patreon tiers that offer bonus content and live stream access to upcoming episodes like “The African Queen.”
  • Summary: This segment outlines multiple ways listeners can support the podcast, including telling friends, leaving reviews, subscribing, and joining Patreon for exclusive content and a live stream of the next episode, “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.