Michael J. Fox Replaces Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in 'Back to the Future' By early January 1985, with more than a month of photography completed, the difficult decision to replace Eric Stoltz was made.
Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future — replaced by Fox after the creators opted to go another route with Marty's character approach. One of the reasons Stoltz was let go was because of the intense way he interpreted and portrayed Marty.
Who did Michael J. Fox play as in Back To The Future?
Michael J. Fox played Marty McFly in the popular 1985 sci-fi movie "Back to the Future." The film was later expanded into a series, with "Back to the Future II" and "Back the Future III" premiereing in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
Most of us probably know that it was Eric Stoltz and not Michael J. Fox cast as Marty McFly, but when Stoltz was fired due to Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg not liking his performance, it was Fox who came in and turned the character into a pop culture icon.
Back to the Future (1985) Cast THEN and NOW, The actors have aged horribly!!
Why didn t Eric Stoltz do Back to the Future?
Unfortunately, the actor's schedule didn't align with the production's so they cast Stoltz, who had previously starred in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Running Hot. Stoltz, however, was eventually let go a few weeks into production because Zemeckis and Gale felt his reading was too intense.
In a career retrospective with GQ published Monday, Lloyd opened up a bit about one of the most famous recastings in Hollywood history. It is common knowledge for most Back to the Future fans that Stoltz was let go after six weeks of production because the filmmakers thought he was just not the right fit for the role.
Claudia Wells Left Back To The Future For Tragic Reasons
Sadly, Claudia Wells had to turn down the offer to return as Jennifer because her mother (who was also her manager) was dying of breast cancer. This tragedy led to Elisabeth Shue being cast as Wells' replacement in the subsequent films.
How much of Back to the Future was shot with Eric Stoltz?
Eric Stoltz filmed over a month's worth of Back To The Future footage, but the tape has not yet been released publicly. Among the scenes that Stoltz acted out is the iconic skateboarding chase scene around Courthouse Square and the first time-travel experiment with Christopher Lloyd's Emmett "Doc" Brown.
His last major role was the lead on the short-lived sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show (2013–2014). Fox officially retired in 2021 due to his declining health.
How old was Michael J. Fox when he shot Back to the Future?
Fox Was 23 Years Old In Back To The Future. When Michael J. Fox replaced Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in the original Back to the Future, the actor was 23 years old. Although he was well into his early twenties during filming, Fox was most famous at the time for his role as the teenage hero of Family Ties.
How old is Michael J. Fox when he filmed Back to the Future?
It also seeks to answer one of life's thornier questions: How do you maintain optimism as things keep getting worse? Fox was just 23 when he made Back to the Future. He wouldn't receive his diagnosis for another six years; he'd work to conceal his symptoms for an additional seven.
Other young stars were considered, including: John Cusack, C. Thomas Howell, Johnny Depp, Ralph Macchio, Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Ben Stiller, Peter DeLuise, Billy Zane, George Newbern, Robert Downey Jr., Christopher Collet, Matthew Modine, and Corey Hart (who declined to audition).
How many girls played Jennifer in Back to the Future?
In Back to the Future, Marty's girlfriend Jennifer is played by two actresses, but the reason for the recast isn't widely known. Who Was Jennifer In Back To The Future? In the original Back to the Future, Jennifer is portrayed by Claudia Wells. While her role was brief, fans still noticed her recasting in the sequel.
And he's not a tatted-up bad boy. He doesn't even have a motorcycle. But he's cool. He's a handsome guy, he's charismatic, he can ride a skateboard like nobody's business, and he's really good at making bullies look in the other direction long enough for him to sucker-punch them.
“I would love to do a sequel, but I think Bob Zemeckis and [producer Steven] Spielberg felt that they told the story in the three episodes,” Lloyd told Variety in May. “But if somebody has a brilliant idea that would justify a fourth film it might happen.”
Did Michael J. Fox do all his stunts in Back to the Future?
Fox did much of his own skateboarding in. "Back To The Future," but the tricky, dangerous riding. was done by his stunt double Charlie Croughwell! Come by and see our spectacular "Back To The Future"
Did Michael J. Fox get Parkinson's during Back to the Future?
Back To The Future star Michael J Fox has said that he does not expect to live to the age of 80, due to his worsening health. Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's as a 29-year-old in 1991, a year after Back To The Future III was released.
You're probably aware of how the famous story goes: Eric Stoltz was the original Marty McFly for a little over a month before he was replaced by Michael J. Fox, effectively adding a few million to the budget for reshoots.
"Back to the Future," an imaginative comedy adventure presented by Steven Spielberg and directed by Robert Zemeckis, was produced by Bob Gale and Neil Canton from an original screenplay by Zemeckis and Gale. Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall serve as executive producers of the Universal release.
Released in July 1985, Back to the Future went on to become the highest grossing film of the year, making over $389 million and going on to become a beloved movie franchise.
