Eric Stoltz as Back to the Future's Marty McFly?
Posted 10.13.10 by Ryan
As hard as it is to imagine 1985's Back to the Future without Michael J. Fox, Fox'
s commitment to the TV series Family Ties forced a casting change that saw Eric Stoltz take the role of Marty McFly. Stoltz shot for five weeks before director Robert Zemeckis decided to replace him. The 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray of the Back to the Future trilogy reveals Stoltz in the role for the first time, including interviews with Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg that explain that Stoltz was ultimately replaced because he wasn't "getting the laughs" Zemeckis was hoping for.
For those wondering about Stoltz's feelings, the actor talked to Moviehole a few years ago and explained how he felt about the switch.
You know, it was twenty-something years ago and I rarely look back, if at all, but in retrospect, I think just getting through that difficult period helped me realize how freeing it really was. I went back to acting school, I moved to Europe, I did some plays in New York and I actually invested in my self in a way that was much healthier for me. If I had become a massive star, I don't know if I wouldn't have gone into therapy. On the other hand, I would've been exceedingly rich which would've been wonderful! [Laughs]
Tune in to Hollywood Dailies for more of the story and more clips of Eric Stoltz on Thursday, October 14th, at 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT. Or catch one of its encore showings on ReelzChannel (Dish 299, DirecTV 238, and your cable system).