The iconic sci-fi classic ‘Back to the Future’ took the extraordinary step of recasting its lead actor Eric Stoltz five weeks into production.
This unprecedented change was made when director Robert Zemeckis made the crucial call to bring in Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, concluding that Stoltz wasn’t hitting the mark.
Fans on the r/Moviesinthemaking subreddit recently sparked discussion by posting a shot of Stoltz portraying McFly. One comment reads: “Right call. But that’s a hell of a ballsy decision to s***can five weeks of filming and reshoot everything.”
Others were quick to agree, with another adding: “Man did they save that movie by recasting Michael J. Fox. I can’t imagine anyone else in that role.”
Delving deeper into the reasons for recasting Stoltz, another fan shared that Fox had been first choice, but was tied up in other projects. They shared: “In the making of this film doc- they said they originally wanted Fox but he was too busy shooting Family Ties. So they went with Stoltz. Sadly they said Eric didn’t get the comedy so much, and played a more serious Marty.”
The story continued with an explanation that once Fox was available, the producers seized the opportunity. Eric was let go, and Fox juggled both shoots for ‘Family Ties’ and the film concurrently, often catching sleep while commuting between sets.
Another theory suggests that the production team had no other option but to dismiss Stoltz because he reportedly approached his role as Marty McFly with an intensity akin to method acting.
Zemeckis has said of Stoltz’s immersion into the character: “We almost always called him Marty. We thought it was silly, but we figured if it helped him do his job, it was harmless. There were a few people on the crew who’d worked on Mask and they called him Rocky, the name of his character in that film.”
Thomas F. Wilson, who shared the screen with Stoltz, conveyed that the dedication to the role led to physical consequences, alleging Stoltz even bruised his collarbone due to his refusal to dial down his performance during scenes.
Challenges on set notwithstanding, the consensus among fans is that Michael J. Fox was a perfect fit for the part.
One admirer commented online: “The clip you can find from the diner with him is insane how similar it played out. Really reinforces the vision the crew had. Literally swapping a whole person and it’s the same scene practically lol.”
Another fan highlighted: “There were major changes behind the scenes. Stoltz filmed around 70% of his part before getting booted and the script was still being rewritten when Fox came on board.
“Most of the iconic features of Marty McFly were nowhere to be seen in Stoltz’s draft. He had green shoes. The cinematography also drastically shifted to stage things better given the major height difference between Fox and most of the other actors.”