A Book A Week

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

In the summer of 1985, a little movie called Back to the Future hit theaters and instantly became a phenomenon. It shattered box office records, captivated audiences, and cemented itself as one of the most beloved films of all time. Forty years later, it remains a timeless classic that generations continue to revisit. But for Michael J. Fox—the fresh-faced actor who brought Marty McFly to life—the role that defined his career almost never happened. In Future Boy, Fox blends his own memories with those of the film’s cast and crew to deliver a behind-the-scenes look at how Back to the Future went from a risky concept to an enduring part of pop culture.

There were dozens of “no’s” before the script that would eventually become Back to the Future finally got a “yes.” It helped that director Steven Spielberg and his production company, Amblin, were in the film’s corner. Writer-director Robert Zemeckis could hardly believe his luck. He and writing partner Bob Gale had their eyes on a young actor, Michael J. Fox, for the lead, but there was one major problem.  Filming would directly conflict with Fox’s day job as the star of the hit sitcom Family Ties. He simply wasn’t available.

Instead, the production cast Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, and filming began. Six weeks later, Fox—who hadn’t even known he was considered for the role—was called into the office of Family Ties producer Gary David Goldberg. There, Goldberg revealed that Spielberg and Zemeckis had sent him the Back to the Future script months earlier, hoping Fox could read it. Goldberg had kept it under wraps, worried that the show would suffer if Fox took on a movie role. But Stoltz wasn’t working out, and now Zemeckis and Spielberg were desperate to replace him. Goldberg finally agreed on one condition. Fox had to keep his full commitment to Family Ties.

And so began a whirlwind schedule that sounds exhausting just to read about. By day, Fox filmed Family Ties as Alex P. Keaton. By night, he was whisked to the Back to the Future set to play Marty McFly. He’d wrap production in the early hours of the morning, grab a couple of hours of sleep, and then start it all over again.

In Future Boy, Michael J. Fox recounts this incredibly demanding time with honesty, humor, and gratitude. He credits his youthful naivety with helping him survive the grueling pace and looks back fondly on the experience of letting his comedic instincts shine on set. He also supplements his memories with perspectives from cast and crew. These voices come alive in the audiobook version, which features actual interview clips.

While I can’t say I learned much that I didn’t already know about the film’s production, Future Boy is still a fascinating listen. It’s a reminder of just how many things had to go right for this lightning-in-a-bottle movie to exist. As someone who grew up rewatching Back to the Future countless times, hearing Fox reflect on its creation was like stepping back into my own memories. It’s proof that some stories—and some performances—never lose their spark, no matter how many times you revisit them.

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(2025, 90)