Michael J. Fox brought Marty McFly to life in the Back to the Future movie franchise, but he wasn’t the first person cast in the role. Eric Stoltz was the original actor tapped to play the co-lead in the 1985 movie, but he was ultimately fired and replaced. The time travel film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, quickly turned into a major hit for Universal Pictures, propelling interest into a sequel. Before Back to the Future II hit theaters in 1989, filming on the third and final installment had already commenced. Not only was it a career-making role for Fox, but playing Marty served as his most well-known work.
When Back to the Future debuted ahead of the July 4th holiday in 1985, Fox was just 24-years-old. Up to that point, he only starred in two other films: Midnight Madness and Class of 1984. Fox was best known for his work in TV, specifically his role as Alex P. Keaton in the hit sitcom Family Ties. Based on his popularity as a series regular, Fox was arguably the most well-known face in Back to the Future. The other most recognizable face was Christopher Lloyd, who played Emmett “Doc” Brown in Zemeckis’ time-traveling trilogy. Lloyd, of course, was best known for starring in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the sitcom Taxi.
Before Fox and Lloyd were even given the chance to encounter a thrilling journey as Marty and Doc, Zemeckis struggled to find a home for Back to the Future. The filmmaker received over three dozen rejections before Universal greenlit the idea. Studio president, Sidney Sheinberg, remained heavily involved during the development stages, and he strongly encouraged the team to cast Stoltz in the role of Marty. The actor’s performance in Mask was a major factor, so Zemeckis and the producers went along with the choice. Unfortunately, for all parties, he wasn’t the right fit from the very beginning, so, despite Stoltz completing footage as Marty, the decision was made to remove him from the project. Interestingly enough, there were also casting issues with Marty’s love interest, Jennifer Parker, throughout the trilogy.
Why Eric Stoltz Was Fired From Back To The Future
Stoltz was a method actor, and he fully dove into the part of Marty by only answering to the character’s name and wearing the movie’s clothes to and from the set. The cast and crew admired Stoltz’s dedication to the gig, but his seriousness had a few negative side effects. Though considered a sci-fi, Back to the Future depended on comedy, especially from Marty’s interactions with the rest of the characters. While Eric Stoltz was undeniably a good actor, he didn’t hit the correct level of comedy needed to portray Marty McFly. His demeanor also rubbed a few cast members the wrong way, including Thomas F. Wilson, who played Biff Tannen in the trilogy.
Michael J. Fox Was Always The First Choice To Play Marty McFly
Around six weeks into filming, Zemeckis and his team realized Stoltz wasn’t working out. In early January 1985, the team approached Fox about the recast plans. Interestingly enough, he was the first choice to play Marty, but his commitment to Family Ties took him out of the running. A few days later, Zemeckis broke the news to a heartbroken Stoltz while Fox took over. Even though Family Ties was still the priority, Fox got the movie back on track after falling a month behind schedule. Not only did Fox nail the role of Marty, but he also brought a breath of fresh air to the set. While some fans still have an interest in seeing Stoltz’s work as Marty, Zemeckis and Universal clearly made the right choice when it came to Back to the Future‘s change of direction.
Why Jennifer Was Recast For Back to the Future (Twice)
Like Marty McFly, Back to the Future encountered issues with the role of Jennifer Parker, causing another series of recastings. Claudia Wells was the first actress cast to play Jennifer before the original Marty actor was fired. Wells worked opposite of Eric Stoltz until he was deemed unfit to play Marty. She appeared alongside Michael J. Fox in the first Back to the Future, but that would be the end of her work in the franchise. Due to scheduling conflicts with Wells, The Office‘s Melora Hardin was brought in as Jennifer for Back to the Future II, but then she was deemed “too tall” opposite Fox. Now available from other gigs, the franchise wanted Wells back, but she had to turn down the offer to help a sick family member. Therefore, Elisabeth Shue was recast as Jennifer Parker, appearing in both Back to the Future sequels.
