Robert Zemeckis Teases Film Adaptation of Back to the Future: The Musical

Legendary filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, director of all three Back to the Future movies, has expressed interest in adapting the successful stage musical version of the iconic film trilogy into a movie. On a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast with host Josh Horowitz, Zemeckis shared his enthusiasm for the idea.

I would like to do the Back to the Future musical. Just like [Mel] Brooks did The Producers. I think that would be great, Zemeckis remarked.

Despite his eagerness, Zemeckis noted that studio backing remains a challenge. “I floated that out to the folks at Universal. They don’t get it. So, nothing I can do,” he admitted, leaving fans in suspense as to whether the idea will move forward.

Back to the Future: The Musical, which won an Olivier Award in 2022, has been a hit on London’s West End and began its Broadway run in June 2023. However, the Broadway production is set to close on January 5, 2025. Produced by Colin Ingram, with Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the musical is based on the classic Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film. It features a book by Bob Gale, who co-created the original film trilogy, and a score that includes new songs by Emmy and Grammy Award winner Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy winner Glen Ballard. Fans will also recognize favorite hits from the original film, including “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando, the production boasts an impressive design team, with 2024 Tony nominees Tim Hatley on set and costume design, Finn Ross on video, Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone on lighting, and Gareth Owen on sound. Choreography by Chris Bailey and musical supervision by Nick Finlow round out the creative team, along with additional contributions from orchestration and dance arrangement specialists.

The musical follows the adventures of Marty McFly, a teenage rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast who accidentally time-travels back to 1955 in a DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. As Marty navigates the past, he must ensure his parents fall in love to safeguard his own future.

While fans wait for any movement on Zemeckis’s film adaptation dreams, the stage production continues to captivate audiences, blending the classic storyline with fresh musical elements that bring the beloved 1985 film to life in a new way.