Michael J. Fox and Eric Stoltz Finally Met,Four Decades After Landmark ‘Back to the Future‘ Recasting
Forty years after Michael J. Fox replaced Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in the 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future, the two actors have finally connected, forging a friendship built on mutual respect and a shared experience. The recasting, a pivotal moment in film history, was initially initiated without direct communication between the actors, a situation Fox sought to remedy with a candid outreach.
Fox initially contacted Stoltz, writing, “If your answer is ’piss off and leave me alone’… That works, too,” as reported by Entertainment Weekly. Stoltz responded with a playful, yet thoughtful reply, beginning with the requested phrase before adding, “I jest…” he respectfully declined to participate in Fox’s memoir, but expressed openness to a meeting.
The actors’ first encounter proved surprisingly easy. “We promptly fell into an easy dialog about our careers,families,and yes,our own trips through the space-time continuum,” Fox writes in his new memoir,Future Boy. “[Stoltz entered] with a smile, and we quickly acknowledged that neither of us had an issue with the other. What transpired on ‘Back to the Future’ had not made us enemies or fated rivals; we were just two dedicated actors who had poured equal amounts of energy into the same role. The rest had nothing to do with us.”
As their meeting,Fox and Stoltz have maintained a friendly correspondence,exchanging recommendations for movies,updates on their families,and occasional political commentary. ”His emails are reliably witty and always fun to read [and] a reminder that some of the best parts of our future can come from the past,” Fox added.
The decision to replace Stoltz occurred after approximately a month of filming, with director Robert zemeckis and producer steven spielberg finding the early footage “disappointing.” Though acknowledging Stoltz’s talent, the creative team determined he wasn’t the right fit for the role. Ironically, Fox was initially unavailable for the part, having been “removed from consideration” by Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg.
Back to the future, starring Fox, went on to gross $381.1 million worldwide in 1985, becoming the year’s highest-grossing film and launching a successful franchise with back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990).
Future Boy, Michael J. Fox’s memoir detailing this experience and more, is now available for purchase.