Why Back To The Future 4 Never Happened

The Back to the Future franchise was a smash hit, but the story never progressed beyond Back to the Future Part III. Of course, many would have been thrilled if Back to the Future 4 had become a reality. These movies are cult classics, and the fact that Marty McFly’s story revolves around time travel makes a sequel possible in just about any decade. According to Back to the Future creators Rober Zemeckis and Bob Gale, Universal has continued to poke and prod them for another movie to continue the story. However, Back to the Future 4 has yet to happen.

Back to the Future was initially meant to be a standalone movie. While the cliffhanger ending perfectly set up a sequel, Doc’s sudden return with a futuristically upgraded DeLorean was only supposed to be a clever and comical ending. However, the first Back to the Future movie’s $212 million success at the domestic box office inspired a continued story. From there, two additional films were planned. Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III weren’t quite as successful at the box office as the first, but the overarching franchise was still a hit. So, could there be a future here?

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale Had No Interest In Making Back To The Future 4

The Back To The Future Creators Were Done After Part III

Zemeckis has been open (via Variety) about Universal wanting more Back to the Future movies. He says they periodically ask if there is any way he and Gale could continue the story, but these creators have maintained that they are not interested. If this is how they feel today, then the pair most definitely weren’t eager to make another Back to the Future movie after Back to the Future Part III wrapped up the story. Zemeckis and Gale did their three, and, as far as they were concerned, that was the end of it.

Marty McFly and Doc Brown’s story had a satisfying ending in Back to the Future Part III, and it seems that Zemeckis and Gale aren’t interested in reopening that can of worms. The story has been told, and these movie-makers have completed this particular piece of art. It’s a rather successful one, too—Back to the Future has maintained its legacy for decades, and if it isn’t broke, it shouldn’t be fixed. Still, there is something tantalizing about the fact that Universal would likely greenlight Back to the Future 4 if it could. As it is, the studio has no power over the matter since Zemeckis and Gale own the rights.

Zemeckis & Gale Have Also Prevented Back To The Future From Being Remade

A Remake Isn’t Likely To Happen Any Time Soon (If At All)

Because Back to the Future‘s creators hold the rights to the story, Universal can’t do anything without their approval. It’s for this reason that the studio periodically checks back with Zemeckis and Gale since their green light is the only one that matters. However, the pair remained steadfast in their decision. Outside of Back to the Future: The Musical, Zemeckis has made it clear that he won’t give his blessing. The pair won’t even allow a remake movie to be made, and Zemeckis has essentially said that such a project will only happen over his dead body.

The time-travel mechanic of Back to the Future makes the idea of a remake especially intriguing to a studio like Universal. The “future” that Marty traveled to in Back to the Future Part II was in 2015, which we have now passed by a decade. Marty’s present is 1985, now further from 2025 than 1955. It would certainly be interesting to see a new time travel adventure in which a modern teen travels back to 1995, only to later jump ahead to 2055—a whole 100 years after the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. However, this doesn’t look likely.

Will Another Back To The Future Movie Ever Happen?

Zemeckis Has Outlined One Scenario In Which A New Movie Could Happen

Zemeckis seems serious that a Back to the Future remake would only happen over his dead body. The movie maker has said that he expects Universal to move ahead with this or a Back to the Future 4 once he and Gale are both “dead,” but even then, it might not happen. The rights to Back to the Future will move on to Zemeckis and Gale’s estates once they pass away. This is when things get a little more mirky in the way of intellectual property. Universal may stand a better chance of moving forward with a new Back to the Future movie at this point, but the legal rights eill still make this complicated.

Find Zemeckis’s quote about the potential of a new Back to the Future movie below:

That can’t happen until both Bob and I are dead. And then I’m sure they’ll do it, unless there’s a way our estates can stop it.

One way or another, it’s clear that Zemeckis and Gale do not want there ever to be more Back to the Future movies. The former’s comment about his estate potentially stopping this from happening implies that he trusts those in charge of his intellectual property following his death will understand his wishes and fight against future films. So, while it is technically possible that a Back to the Future 4 or remake will happen several decades from now, this might not be for the best. After all, why should a franchise continue when its creator is vehement that their art remains as it is?

Why Back To The Future Doesn’t Need Another Sequel Or A Remake

Back To The Future Shouldn’t Be Messed With

There’s a strong chance that a new Back to the Future movie would succeed. The franchise has a cult following, and the additional decades that have passed since the original 1985 movie released make the time-travel mechanic all the more intriguing. This is precisely why Universal is so eager to continue—there’s little doubt that a new project has the potential to bring in some big bucks. Still, there are far more—and far less money-hungry—reasons that Back to the Future 4 or any other Back to the Future remakes shouldn’t happen now or in the future.

The past decade or so has been the age of reboots and sequels, and, in some cases, these have been a massive success. There has also been a significant share of duds, and the failure of these movies and TV shows ultimately reflected poorly on the overarching franchise. The first Back to the Future movie was a booming success, but its sequels appealed a little less to audiences with each installment. Still, the franchise survived, and these movies have aged beautifully. Zemeckis and Gale seem to understand that this is something that just shouldn’t be messed with. So, despite the appeal, Back to the Future must stay ended.

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Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly, who is accidentally transported to 1955 in a time-travel experiment orchestrated by his eccentric friend Doc Brown. As he navigates the past, Marty must ensure his parents meet and fall in love to secure his return to 1985.

Release Date

July 3, 1985

Runtime

116 minutes

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Cast

Christopher Lloyd
, Michael J. Fox
, Crispin Glover
, Lea Thompson
, Claudia Wells
, Thomas F. Wilson
, Marc McClure
, Wendie Jo Sperber
, George DiCenzo
, Frances Lee McCain
, Billy Zane
, J.J. Cohen
, Casey Siemaszko
, James Tolkan
, Harry Waters, Jr.
, Donald Fullilove
, Lisa Freeman
, Cristen Kauffman
, Elsa Raven
, Will Hare
, Ivy Bethune
, Jason Marin
, Katherine Britton
, Jason Hervey
, Maia Brewton

Character(s)

Emmett Brown
, Marty McFly
, George McFly
, Lorraine Baines
, Jennifer Parker
, Biff Tannen
, Dave McFly
, Linda McFly
, Sam Baines
, Stella Baines
, Match
, Skinhead
, 3-D
, Mr. Strickland
, Marvin Berry
, Goldie Wilson
, Babs
, Betty
, Clocktower Lady
, Pa Peabody
, Ma Peabody
, Sherman Peabody
, Peabody Daughter
, Milton Baines
, Sally Baines

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Writers

Robert Zemeckis
, Bob Gale

Budget

$19 million

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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