There’s Only 2 Reasons Preventing A Back To The Future Reboot From Happening

Back to the Future‘s enduring popularity makes it ripe for a reboot, but there are two reasons it will probably never happen. The iconic movie stars Michael J. Fox as a teenager who accidentally stops his parents from meeting when he travels to 1955 using the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd)’s homemade time machine and must get his parents together to preserve his existence. Studios had a ridiculous response to Back to the Future, rejecting it over 40 times before it was greenlit, but the film was a box office hit that led to two sequels and became a classic that still finds new audiences to this day.

Despite the impact Back to the Future had not only on its genre but pop culture in general, Back to the Future 4 never happened, which is good. The Back to the Future trilogy tells a complete story that does not ask for a sequel, and any attempts to reboot the series would most likely fail in capturing the magic and impact of the previous movies. Still, given the current landscape of countless reboots and remakes, it can be surprising that a new Back to the Future film hasn’t happened.

Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale Will Never Approve A Back To The Future Reboot

They Have The Final Say Per Their Original Contracts

Original writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale have been emphatic in their refusal to participate in a reboot or grant permission for someone else to take over the franchise. Although a 2018 poll (via THR) listed Back to the Future as one of the films audiences would most like to see rebooted, Bob Gale had a brutal response regarding Back to the Future 4, commenting that “You don’t sell your kids into prostitution.” Gale also stated that he and Zemeckis felt the saga was over after the third film.

Another likely reason why Gale and Zemeckis refuse to grant permission for Back to the Future 4 is out of respect for Michael J. Fox. Fox, who became a household name partially because of his starring role in Back to the Future, has had to retire because of advanced Parkinson’s disease. He would most likely not be able to participate in a reboot because of his health, and it would be difficult to imagine a Back to the Future without Marty McFly. The only other option would be a complete reboot, in which Gale and Zemeckis don’t seem to be interested either.

A Back To The Future Reboot Will Only Happen After Tragic Circumstances

It May Be Possible To Get Around The Creators’ Wishes After Their Deaths

One grim reality around a Back to the Future remake is that it may be possible to get around the original writers’ wishes for the franchise after their deaths. At that point, the rights will be transferred to designated heirs, and if those people grant permission, the film can be made. Both writers would have to die before a third party could negotiate a deal for a reboot, a scenario that Zemeckis himself has acknowledged when discussing whether a new Back to the Future movie will ever happen.

Robert Zemeckis has acknowledged this morbid possibility by saying (via Deadline), “That can’t happen until both Bob (Gale) and I are dead. And then I’m sure they’ll do it unless there’s a way our estates can stop it.” Since he and Gale feel so strongly about this issue, they may set up arrangements blocking third parties from granting the rights to reboot the film after their deaths. In any event, it is clear that they do not want a Back to the Future reboot to happen under any circumstances.

Back To The Future Being Rebooted Without Zemeckis & Gale’s Blessing Would Tarnish The Movie

A New Movie Would Have to Disregard The Original Creators’ Wishes

The only way to reboot Back to the Future is to override the creators’ wishes. This would deeply hurt the new movie’s reputation, as it would be known that the original creators did not want this movie to be made. It would also be disrespectful to the original Back to the Future cast, if a future reboot was made despite the original writers’ wish, ignoring the legacy of the original three films to create something out of a popular IP.

Michael. J. Fox criticized the idea of a Back to the Future reboot, saying that he doubted that new writers would find a better way to tell the story. Unlike Zemeckis and Gale, however, Fox isn’t entirely opposed to a fourth movie or reboot if the story is right. Still, a new reboot after the original writers’ deaths would disrespect their wishes and tarnish the rebooted film’s reputation.

Back to the Future continues to be popular almost 40 years after it was created for a reason. It’s not only unnecessary to try to recreate its success with a reboot, but disrespectful to the original creators’ vision for the story to consider it. Creators Gale and Zemeckis have consistently rejected requests to produce a fourth installment of the franchise, making it impossible to reboot the film while they are alive, and their wishes should continue to be respected.