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Back to the Future is celebrated as one of the most renowned movie series ever. The year 1985 has cemented itself in popular culture (it even inspired a song by SR-71), and one of the most unforgettable personalities from that time is Marty McFly: a student who travels through time in all three films. While the world acknowledges that Michael J. Fox brought the character to life, some are unaware that the part was originally assigned to Eric Stoltz, who was replaced by Michael weeks into filming.
With the release of Michael’s book, Future Boy, which chronicles his demanding schedule juggling Back to the Future and Family Ties, the Parkinson’s Disease activist shared the true story of his replacing Eric.
Here, Hollywood Life explains the circumstances of Michael’s replacing Eric and the true nature of their relationship.
Original “Marty McFly” actor Eric Stoltz on being fired from Back to the Future (1985) pic.twitter.com/G0AyPW7hCX
— Eyes On Cinema (@RealEOC) February 28, 2025
Why Did Michael J. Fox Replace Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly?
Michael was initially selected to embody Marty in Back to the Future, but his commitments to the Family Ties production schedule took precedence. Therefore, Eric was chosen for the role, but he was superseded by Michael because director Robert Zemeckis desired a more humorous depiction of Marty. Eric imparted a more profound, emotional quality to the character.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Michael disclosed in Future Boy, “They had been filming for over a month. Sadly, the daily footage was underwhelming. Eric was a remarkably gifted actor, but the creative team determined that he simply wasn’t the appropriate fit for Marty McFly.”
Michael’s fellow performers have also voiced their thoughts on the production team’s painful choice to substitute Eric after weeks of initial filming. As reported by Digital Spy, Christopher Lloyd (who portrayed the scientist Doc Brown) previously admitted that he “felt for Eric” upon his dismissal.
I know it’ll never happen ‘officially’…but I still hold out hope that one day we’ll get to see an alternate cut of Back to the Future with Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, given that roughly 80% of of filming was complete. pic.twitter.com/eufo472kR2
— Mark’s Yesterworld (@Yester_World) January 19, 2023
“He was truly a good actor,” Christopher mentioned, before adding, “While he executed the role proficiently, he wasn’t incorporating that comedic aspect onto the screen.”
Lea Thompson had similar comments, according to Digital Spy. The actress, who played Lorraine McFly in Back to the Future, previously collaborated with Eric on the 1984 film The Wild Life and confessed that it was “hard” to see Eric leave.
“It was challenging for me because Eric and I were close friends,” Lea revealed previously. “Eric is a singular actor, and he could be quite challenging. … [He] possessed such intensity. He perceived drama in everything. He wasn’t essentially a comedian, and they required a comedian. He’s incredibly humorous in reality, but he didn’t approach his work with that mindset, and they truly required someone with those talents.”
Was Eric Stoltz Fired From Back to the Future?
Indeed, Eric was fired from Back to the Future, though it was not due to any conflict with the production. As mentioned earlier, Michael was selected to replace Eric because the creative team desired an actor with a more comedic take on the portrayal of Marty.
Are Michael J. Fox & Eric Stoltz Friends?
Affirmative, Michael shared in Future Boy that he contacted Eric four decades after he supplanted the Pulp Fiction actor as Marty. In an excerpt, Michael noted that he “was ready for the possibility” that Eric would “prefer” to remain silent on the subject. The actors had never been acquainted before Michael reached out.
“If your response is ‘leave me alone’… That’s okay, too,” Michael conveyed to Eric, according to his book. Nevertheless, Eric responded with a “well-crafted reply,” which jokingly opened with, “Leave me alone! I’m kidding.”
“Eric thoughtfully considered my approach, and although he respectfully declined participation in the book, he seemed amenable to the possibility of a meeting,” Michael clarified in his book.
After Eric visited Michael at his New York residence, it became evident to both that “neither of us held any animosity toward the other,” the Teen Wolf personality shared in Future Boy.
“What unfolded during Back to the Future did not render us enemies or destined rivals; we were simply two actors dedicated to our craft who had invested comparable energy into the same role,” Michael noted. “The remaining elements had nothing to do with either of us. As it turned out, we shared more common ground than just our role as Marty.”
Sourse: hollywoodlife.com