Back to the Future, and the two follow-up films in the time-traveling franchise, are among the best-loved films of all time. The original 1985 movie drew acclaim from both critics and movie audiences alike, and it made over 389 million dollars at the US box office. The sequels were just as popular, and fans have been craving a follow-up movie ever since Back to the Future 3 dominated our multiplexes.
In a 2018 poll conducted by Hollywood Reporter, 71 percent of Americans voted Back to the Future as the movie franchise most-deserving of a sequel, ahead of such other hits as Toy Story and Jurassic Park. Unfortunately, there has been no news of a fourth movie in the franchise yet. The last entry in the series ended with Doc Brown and his Wild West-acquired family setting off on adventures in a time-traveling train, and Marty McFly seemingly happily stranded in the present after the destruction of his own time-traveling device, the now-famous DeLorean.
So, what about a sequel? Will there be a Back to the Future 4? Well, as we haven't yet been able to invent a time machine of our own, we cannot tell you for certain. However, for those of you hoping to see Marty McFly and Doc Brown on the screen again for a fourth adventure, we have to let you know that you might end up feeling disappointed.
Will There Be A Back To The Future 4?
One cast member of Back to the Future is certainly open to the possibility of another film in the franchise. Christopher Lloyd, the actor who played Doc Brown in the much-loved series, told fans at the Niagara Falls comic con, "I'd be happy to, for myself. But we'll see." As reported at Comicbook.com, he said: "I think somehow it needs to kind of convey a message about something that’s important to everyone, universally, like climate change. Some way of incorporating whatever fever is going on at the moment into the film and keep the feeling of one, two, and three."
But despite Lloyd's apparent enthusiasm, the possibility of a fourth movie in the franchise seems unlikely. This is because the director of the original trilogy, Robert Zemeckis, is less-than-keen to return to the trilogy that brought him massive amounts of critical acclaim. As stated in this article at CinemaBlend, he and writer Bob Gale had it written into their contracts that there would never be another film in the franchise made in their lifetime. So, not only will he and Gale not return to make a fourth entry, but other filmmakers won't be given the opportunity to either.
But is this a bad thing? Many people consider the first three films to be the perfect 'trilogy,' so it's no surprise that Zemeckis would risk sullying the franchise with another entry in the series. In his hands, a fourth film might succeed, but in the hands of a lesser director, there is every chance that the film could turn out to be a disaster. Just check out the sequels to Spielberg's Jaws and the follow-ups in the potentially dead Men in Black franchise, none of which matched the quality of the originals. As writer Bob Gale said in an interview featured at Yahoo Movies, "We learn from the fact that so many studios have gone back to the well on some of their franchise properties too many times, and the audiences are disappointed and say: 'Oh my God, they ruined my childhood."
Perhaps it is a good thing that a fourth entry is less than likely then.
And then there's the fact that Michael J. Fox, the actor who so wonderfully brought Marty McFly to life in the original films, is in a less than fit state to return to the role that kickstarted his movie career.
In an interview with Yahoo, Gale said: "I can't imagine anybody wants to see a Back to the Future movie that doesn't have Michael J. Fox." He continued, "Michael J. Fox with his Parkinson's makes it impossible for him to be the grown-up version of the Marty McFly that we saw in the movie. I think the public wants to remember Michael J. Fox from before he had Parkinson's and it's kind of hard. It's like when you go see a family member, your mother or your grandmother, and she's had a stroke, it's difficult. That's a hurdle that we can in no way get over."
And that is a fair comment. While Michael J. Fox has continued to work as an actor, mainly through voice-over work, he was the lynch pin that held the franchise together. Without him, a fourth movie just wouldn't be the same.
Beyond The Movie Trilogy
While a fourth movie seems unlikely, including the much-mooted reboot with Tom Holland, fans can still take solace in the fact that they still have the opportunity to watch the original trilogy on Blu-Ray time and time again. These are films that will never grow old, and unlike many other movies, much enjoyment can be gained, even after multiple viewings.
But going beyond the trilogy, there are other ways to immerse ourselves in the time-traveling universe that was originally dreamt up by Zemeckis and Gale. For one, there is the Back To The Future musical which made its debut this year. Featuring some of the best songs from the original movie, including 'The Power of Love' and 'Johnny B.Goode,' it retells the story from the first film in an exciting new way. Fans can also rewatch the 90s animated series, play the video games, and read the graphic novels that tell stories going beyond the trilogy, so there is still much to catch up on, despite the lack of a new cinematic entry in the franchise.
So, while the chances of a fourth Back to the Future are slim, fans can still enjoy the characters from the films in all kinds of ways. And perhaps this is for the best, as despite topping the polls as the 'most-wanted franchise sequel,' a fourth film might not provide the magic we expect anyway, for the reasons we discussed previously.
For now, then, there will be no more Back to the Future movies. As Marty says throughout the trilogy, "this is heavy," but you might agree that it's for the best that a fourth movie (including a reboot) should never be made.