Key Takeaways:
– Despite being a classic, ‘Back to the Future‘ faced a wave of rejections before making it to the big screen.
– One objectionable scene led Disney to reject the film.
– The movie found a home at Universal Studios, thanks to Steven Spielberg.
– Michael J. Fox, the film’s lead, is praised by actor Ryan Reynolds for his contribution to Parkinson’s research.
Featuring the iconic Michael J. Fox, ‘Back to the Future’ is a paragon of science fiction cinema from the creative minds of Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale. But did you know that Disney, among others, passed on this masterpiece?
Harsh Criticisms and Shocking Rejections
Surprisingly, the film was denied by over 40 multimedia outlets, as revealed by Bob Gale, the screenwriter. Many may think it was the complex timeline or sci-fi elements that steered clear the conventional studios. However, the reason was distinctly different and sparked a somewhat scandalous debate. It was a bold scene in the film starring Michael J. Fox that caused studios like Disney to give it a hard pass.
A Scandalous Scene
The sticky wicket was a scene where Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, inadvertently ends up being kissed by his own mom. This takes place when Marty time travels from 1985 to 1955 in an iconic DeLorean car to stop his parents from falling in love, putting his very existence at risk. Later, at the famous Enchantment Under the Sea Dance sequence, a unknowing teenage version of his mom, played by Lea Thompson, kisses him. A number of studios found this plot twist too scandalous and turned the film down.
Bob Gale recounted in an interview with CNN his visit to a particular studio executive. “Are you guys nuts? Are you insane? We can’t make a movie like this… the mother falling in love with the kid… It’s incest! This is Disney. It’s too dirty for us!”
Steven Spielberg Saves the Day
Despite these familiar Hollywood woes, the film eventually saw the light of the day thanks to acclaimed director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg saw potential in the script and decided to produce the film under the banner of Universal Studios, which led to the ‘Back to the Future’ franchise we know today.
Fox’s Exemplary Service to Parkinson’s Research
Beyond the world of movies, Michael J. Fox is an extraordinary exemplar of humanitarian work, especially for Parkinson’s research. In 2000 he set up the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Having grappled with the disease himself, Fox’s contributions offer hope and support to those affected.
Ryan Reynolds, the charming actor from Deadpool, sings high praises for Fox. He fondly wrote about him,”I’ve watched him raise the bar for purpose and passion… He’s someone who helped my dad, along with millions of others, feel less alone.” Reynolds, whose father battled Parkinson’s for nearly 20 years, is also on the board of The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Even as Parkinson’s hit Fox early, diagnosed at only 29, his fighting spirit kept him going. Today, he stands tall not just as a beloved entertainer, but as a beacon of hope and courage, rightfully earning a place on Time’s top 100 influential people.
It’s clear that ‘Back to the Future’ had quite a journey before it became the classic we know and love today. The film currently streams on Apple TV, AMC On Demand, and Vudu.
