‘Back to the Future 4’ could still happen, although in a way very few imagined

The ‘Back to the Future ' trilogy was comprised of three iconic time-travel films released between the mid-1980s and early 1990s, and were stories that made Michael J. Fox’ s Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd’ s Doc Brown both beloved and memorable characters. Robert Zemeckis, co-writer and director of these three feature films, has dragged his feet for years on a new installment, although recently he seems to have changed his mind. However, this ‘Back to the Future 4 ' would be neither a reboot nor a sequel, but something radically different: an adaptation of the musical.

Robert Zemeckis wants to make ‘Back to the Future 4′ but it would be a musical and not a new story or a reboot.

Although Robert Zemeckis has steadfastly refused over the years to make a new ‘Back to the Future ' despite pleas and entreaties from Universal Pictures, in recent times the filmmaker would be rethinking his stance. In a video interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zemeckis has revealed that he wants to make a new ‘Back to the Future’. His choice is shocking, because it is not a continuation as such of ‘Back to the Future III’, the last film of the trilogy released in 1990. Nor is it a reboot of the original story and concept; instead, the director wants ‘Back to the Future 4′ to be an adaptation of the musical.

“I’d like to do ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’. It would be something similar to what Mel Brooks did with ‘The Producers,’ which also adapted a musical. I’d love to do something like that, I think it would be great. I dropped it to Universal, but they don’t get it, so there’s nothing I can do,” Zemeckis commented. The filmmaker also jokingly revealed that after ‘Back to the Future III ' (1990), every six months he is asked by Universal Pictures to create a fourth film in the much-loved franchise, adding that the insistence is strong. “‘Are you sure there’s nothing we can do?”, they ask me,” he revealed.

In 2015, during the 30th anniversary of the popular franchise, Zemeckis was very clear about rumors that a remake was in the works. “That won’t happen until me and Bob are dead”, he declared. The filmmaker was referring to Bob Gale, co-writer with himself of the original trilogy, which for all intents and purposes makes them the creators of this interesting universe. This position revealed more than evidently that neither Zemeckis nor Gale wanted to “unearth” ‘Back to the Future’, preferring that fans keep a good memory of the trilogy before the possible risk that a new installment would not meet the high expectations and ruin its prestige.

Zemeckis’ recent change of opinion is relevant, as the famed director has been very clear with his stance of not wanting to make a new ‘Back to the Future’ movie for decades. After this new revelation, that steely “no” has now changed to a “can” with nuances; and is that this new installment in which the director is interested would be an adaptation of the musical ‘Back to the Future: The Ride’, first released in 2020, and that has been touring different parts of the United States and United Kingdom.

This musical is based on the original 1985 film, cleverly uses elements from a book by Bob Gale, and features music by Alan Silvestri. This involvement of several key personalities from the celebrated original ‘Back to the Future’ has led to a largely positive reception for the musical. Adapting it into a feature film would be what is known as a “recursive adaptation”: the end result would be a film based on a musical based on the original film.

Nevertheless, this is good news for fans of the franchise, because in the future we could see Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown in action again. Although, yes, in musical format, and with different actors. The involvement of Robert Zemeckis would guarantee that the original vision would be maintained, so a priori there would be nothing to fear except the fact that it is a musical, a format considered niche and not suitable for all audiences.

The other ‘Back to the Future 4′ was an attraction at the Universal parks

Although the canonical story of the movies ended with ‘Back to the Future III’ (1990), in 1991 an immersive experience called ‘Back to the Future: The Ride’ arrived at several Universal amusement parks. It was the official attraction of ‘Back to the Future’, and had the collaboration of Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, the screenwriters and creators of the franchise.

Its story tells how Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) founds the Institute of Future Technology in Hill Valley, an organization dedicated to traveling through time with a fleet of DeLorean to experience firsthand and painstakingly document the entire history of mankind. His work brings Brown fame and prestige, something that contrasts with his reputation as a “mad scientist” and loner in the movies.

However, this noble purpose is seriously jeopardized when Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) gets his hands on one of the time machines and runs off with it. The passengers of the attraction, as ITF volunteers, must pilot a DeLorean and chase Tannen through different epochs in order to stop him so that the timeline is not endangered by his interference.

Although the events of ‘Back to the Future: The Ride’ directly contradict events from the films such as the destruction of the DeLorean at the end of the third feature film, This attraction enjoyed a certain prestige and legitimacy within the saga fan community due to the direct involvement of Gale and Zemeckis and the appearance of Lloyd and Wilson. Because of this, There are those who consider it semi-canon, and, in the absence of a new movie, the closest thing we will see to ‘Back to the Future 4′.

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