Why Back to the Future Recast Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly

Back to the future is now a classic from the 1980s and Michael J. Fox is best remembered for his role as Marty McFly, which he got after Eric Stoltz was fired from the film. The 1980s is home to many classic films across different genres and in the worlds of science fiction and comedy Back to the future is a clear favorite. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Back to the future introduces the world to teenager Marty McFly and his friend Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd), an eccentric scientist working on a very important project.

It turns out that Doc has built a time machine out of a modified DeLorean and powered by plutonium, which gets him into big trouble. When the terrorists Doc stole the plutonium from arrive and kill him, Marty panics and uses the DeLorean to escape, but this takes him back to 1955. Marty meets his parents, who are his age, but their presence in the past and the Meeting with his parents risks making him disappear. Back to the future It was a critical and commercial success and Fox's performance was praised, but this warm reception might not have happened if the original Marty McFly actor had stayed on.

Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future a month after filming began

Eric Stoltz wasn't Marty McFly for long

Back to the future went through a lot of hurdles during pre-production, and once filming began, it wasn't exactly the smoothest process either. Michael J. Fox was the first choice to play Marty McFly, but at the time he starred in the show Family ties. Steven Spielberg asked Family tiesProducer Gary David Goldberg asked Fox to read the script, but fearing that his absence would harm the show's success, he did not give him the script. After many other actors were considered for the role, Eric Stoltz was finally cast..

Filming began on November 26, 1984. A month later, Zemeckis reviewed the material they had, and although he was reluctant because he tends to be self-critical, he didn't think Stoltz's performance was working, and Zemeckis had a list of scenes that he I wanted to remake it (via We Don't Need Roads: The Back to the Future Trilogy). Zemeckis reviewed the footage with the producers and they agreed that Stoltz was not the Marty McFly actor. Fortunately for Zemeckis, studio chief executive Sidney Sheinberg told him that if Stoltz didn't work out, they could remake the film (through Squire).

This, along with Stoltz using method acting, which created tension with the rest of the cast and crew, led Spielberg to tell Zemeckis they needed to replace Stoltz or risk producing Back to the future being canceled. The studio contacted Michael J. Fox and the producer of Family tieswho finally told Fox about the script. After reaching an agreement with Goldberg, Fox joined Back to the future without reading the script, but the production with Stoltz had to continue for a little longer. On January 10, 1985, Stoltz was fired.

Stoltz had filmed several scenes when he was fired, including when Marty travels to 1955, when the DeLorean breaks down and Marty cannot return to 1985, and his return to the correct year. Stoltz was paid full salary after a month of filming and only one scene with Stoltz was retained in the final version of Back to the future: When, in 1955, Marty punches Biff in the face.

Eric Stoltz's version of Marty McFly wasn't what Zemeckis was looking for

Zemeckis had a clear idea of ​​what he wanted

What happened to Eric Stoltz and Back to the future it's just that he wasn't giving the Marty McFly performance that Zemeckis was looking for. Stoltz was giving a darker, more serious Marty McFlyisn't exactly the crazy energy Zemeckis needed for the character, and he reportedly told his makeup artist he didn't know why he was cast because he wasn't a comedian (via The Making Of Back To The Future Trilogy). Stoltz was also given a hairstyle and overall looked more like a “bad boy”, which, again, did not suit Marty McFly.

Michael J. Fox began filming Back to the future on January 15, 1985, dividing his time between filming Family ties and the Zemeckis project. Fox's presence reportedly changed the atmosphere on the set of Back to the future for the better, and he brought to life the high-energy, clumsy, but charming and fun Marty McFly that Zemeckis needed.

Other actors who were considered for Marty McFly before Eric Stoltz

Meet the actors who almost played Marty McFly

After Michael J. Fox did not receive the script for Back to the future and before Eric Stoltz was cast, other actors were considered to play Marty McFly. The favorite was C. Thomas Howellbest known for playing Ponyboy Curtis in the Francis Ford Coppola film The strangersbut Sheinberg preferred Stoltz after seeing his performance in the 1985 drama Mask. Many big names were considered to play Marty McFly, including John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Ralph Maccio, Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Billy Zane, Matthew Modine and George Newborn.

Musician Corey Hart was also considered to play Marty McFly, but according to The Making Of Back To The Future Trilogyhe declined the offer and did not audition. While some of them aren't exactly comedic actors, others may have been able to channel the energy and personality that Zemeckis wanted Marty McFly to have, but ultimately, Michael J. Fox was the ideal actor for the role.

What Eric Stoltz Has Done Since Back to the Future Has Been Revealed

Eric Stoltz continued his career after Back to the Future

Robert Zemeckis described Eric Stoltz's dismissal from Back to the future as the “hardest” meeting he had ever had and felt guilty about it, saying it broke Stoltz's heart (Box office successthrough Squire). However, and happily, being fired Back to the future After a month of filming it was not the end of Eric Stoltz's career. Stoltz's acting career began on TV in 1978, and he made his film debut in a minor role in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy. Fast times at Ridgemont High. Stoltz's big break came in 1985, when he played Rocky Dennis in Mask.

After leaving Back to the futureStoltz had a role in the romantic comedy Say anything… and starred in the science fiction horror film The Fly IIthe failed sequel to David Cronenberg's classic. In the 1990s, Stoltz played Lance in pulp FictionJohn Brooke in Little WomenEthan Valhere in Jerry Maguireand Dr. Cale in Anaconda.

On TV, Stoltz's most notable projects are Crazy for you (where he played Alan Tofsky), Chicago Hope (as Dr. Yeats), Caprica (as Daniel Graystone), and The girls on the bus (John Spencer). Eric Stoltz also worked as a director in the movies Confessions of a Jesus Idiot Teenager and Class classificationas well as in episodes of Law and Order, Grey's Anatomy, Pinch/Fold, Happinessand Bull.

Sources: We Don't Need Roads: The Back to the Future Trilogy, Squire.