Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox gave some advice to the musical’s new Marty McFly. The original 1985 classic follows Marty (Fox), a high school student who gets stuck in the past via Emmett “Doc” Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) time-traveling DeLorean. Over the years, Back to the Future has grown in popularity, continuing to be referenced in movie/television projects, and the franchise itself has expanded to include video games, merchandise, and more. A stage production of Back to the Future began in 2020, and made its Broadway debut this year, with actor Casey Likes taking on the role of Marty.
During an interview with Variety, Likes talked about Back to the Future: The Musical and revealed some of the advice Fox gave him. The original Marty actor, who attended opening night, offered words of encouragement, telling him: “Kick *ss. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
Why Back To The Future Succeeds As A Musical
Back to the Future is often considered a classic, impacting both the science-fiction genre and popular culture. The time-traveling movie, which explores some of the inadvertent consequences of Marty’s trip to 1955, including his parents not meeting, has managed to sustain a large fanbase nearly four decades after its initial release. Fox previously discussed Back to the Future‘s reception, noting that he was able to appreciate the movie as he got older and that his reaction toward his own performance was positive. Back to the Future is still occasionally played at movie theaters, in addition to its streaming/television runs, and the DeLorean remains an iconic movie prop.
The stage production of Back to the Future began in England and includes some elements from the original installment. It has earned major recognition, including two Best New Musical awards, and will aim to attract just as much attention on Broadway, having seemingly gained the support of Christopher Lloyd, who appeared in its trailer. The show had its debut in New York on August 3, and along with Likes, much of the cast is made up of new faces.
Similar to Bring It On, Mean Girls, and other adaptations, Back to the Future: The Musical has likely excited audiences. While it seems another Back to the Future sequel is a long shot, this type of project allows them to revisit the franchise differently. Fox’s advice to Likes, and Lloyd’s support, should only make audiences more eager to see the show.
