Back To The Future: Why The Original Marty McFly Actor Was Fired
Michael J. Fox brought Marty McFly to life in the Back to the Future movie franchise, but he wasn't the first person cast in the role. Eric Stoltz was the original actor tapped to play the co-lead in the 1985 movie, but he was ultimately fired and replaced. The time travel film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, quickly turned into a major hit for Universal Pictures, propelling interest into a sequel. Before Back to the Future II hit theaters in 1989, filming on the third and final installment had already commenced. Not only was it a career-making role for Fox, but playing Marty served as his most well-known work.
When Back to the Future debuted ahead of the July 4th holiday in 1985, Fox was just 24-years-old. Up to that point, he only starred in two other films: Midnight Madness and Class of 1984. Fox was best known for his work in TV, specifically his role as Alex P. Keaton in the hit sitcom Family Ties. Based on his popularity as a series regular, Fox was arguably the most well-known face in Back to the Future. The other most recognizable face was Christopher Lloyd, who played Emmett «Doc» Brown in Zemeckis' time-traveling trilogy. Lloyd, of course, was best known for starring in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and the sitcom Taxi.
Related: Why Back To The Future 2 Completely Reshot The Ending Of The First Movie
Before Fox and Lloyd were even given the chance to encounter a thrilling journey as Marty and Doc, Zemeckis struggled to find a home for Back to the Future. The filmmaker received over three dozen rejections before Universal greenlit the idea. Studio president, Sidney Sheinberg, remained heavily involved during the development stages, and he strongly encouraged the team to cast Stoltz in the role of Marty. The
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