Universal Keeps Asking for Back to the Future 4, But Its Creator Just Wants to Make a Musical

Given today’s IP-driven Hollywood, it should be little surprise that Universal is hungry for a Back to the Future sequel — but director Robert Zemeckis has something else in mind.

Zemeckis appeared on an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast and, among other things, talked about potential future projects continuing his and co-writer Bob Dale’s beloved Back to the Future trilogy. Host Josh Horowitz asked Zemeckis if Universal approaches him about Back to the Future 4 every two years, to which the filmmaker joked, “oh, every six months.”

While he clarified that that figure was just an “exaggeration,” he went on to add that, of course, the studio has been pestering him about it. “Isn’t there anything we can figure out to do here? Isn’t there anything we can do?,” he said, imitating Universal executives.

“We have to say, ‘you know, there are different things we can do that might work,’ something like that, you know? But to remake the movie or to suggest that there’s a Back to the Future 4, you know, it just isn’t in the cards,” Zemeckis continued.

One of those things that he might consider, however?

“I would like to do Back to the Future: The Musical [as a film],” Zemeckis said later in the podcast, referencing the Broadway production that’ll wrap up its run early next year. “Just like [Mel] Brooks did The Producers. I would love to do that. I think that would be great.”

Horowitz then pressed him on if he’s pitched the idea to Universal, and Zemeckis revealed that he has “floated” it to the studio. But “they don’t get it,” he said. “So, nothing I can do.”

While Zemeckis’ desire to adapt of Back to the Future: The Musical is news, his comments on not wanting to do Back to the Future 4 shouldn’t be too surprising. He made similar statements in a previous interview with The Telegraph, saying, “That can’t happen until both Bob and I are dead. And then I’m sure they’ll do it, unless there’s a way our estates can stop it.”

The cast isn’t quite as ready to dismiss the idea. Christopher Lloyd said he would “love” to do a sequel “if somebody has a brilliant idea that would justify a fourth film it might happen.” Michael J. Fox, meanwhile, doesn’t “think [Back to the Future] needs rebooting because are you going to clarify something? You’re going to find a better way to tell the story? I doubt it.”

In short: don’t count on Back to the Future 4, but hey, maybe Zemeckis will get his wish and we’ll be tapping our toes to the musical adaptation in theaters soon enough. For more, check out our list of the 25 best sci-fi movies of all time.

Thumbnail credit: Universal/Getty Images

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.