If you’ve been waiting for another Back to the Future film, it might be time to accept that it’s unlikely to happen.
It seems that another “Back to the Future” movie isn’t on the horizon, at least not as long as the franchise’s creators are still actively engaged in the series. During a recent appearance at the Saturn Awards, co-creator Bob Gale mentioned (via The Hollywood Reporter) his enjoyment of working on “Back to the Future: The Musical,” providing something fresh for fans eager for new content within the “Back to the Future” universe. Regarding a genuine “Back to the Future 4,” though… it’s uncertain at this time.
Often, people ask, “When will you make ‘Back to the Future 4’?” To which we usually respond with a playful retort, something like, “Don’t quote me on that, but… ‘Never say never!’
Well okay then.
Having created three fantastic films, there was a constant demand for more ‘Back to the Future’. In response, we developed ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ and are now planning to share it globally.
After a long development process (and a delay because of Covid), the Back to the Future musical premiered in London in 2022. It opened on Broadway in the summer of 2023. Gale wrote the book for the show (based on his own screenplay for the first Back to the Future co-written with film director Robert Zemeckis). It faithfully adapts the first film in the franchise with a couple minor changes. (There are no terrorists in this version, for example; Doc’s death in the opening scenes is instead the result of radiation poisoning.) It features songs from the film like “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode,” along with originals written by Back to the Future composer Alan Silvestri with lyrics by Glen Ballard.
As a die-hard movie buff who’s had the pleasure of witnessing “Back to the Future: The Musical” on Broadway, I must say it was an absolute blast! Unfortunately, it wrapped up its run on the Great White Way in January, but fear not, fellow enthusiasts, because a nationwide tour is now revving up. Destinations include Dallas, Texas, Tampa, Florida, and Providence, Rhode Island. Don’t miss out – grab your tickets and more details at the show’s official website. And let me tell you, the DeLorean effects were nothing short of mind-blowing! If you’re a fan of the original film, I guarantee you’ll find this musical just as exhilarating.
Blockbuster Flops That Ended Their Future Franchises
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
The film adaptation of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” wasn’t as terrible as some people might think. Perhaps it was the use of the Eagles’ “Journey of the Sorcerer” as its intro music, which was also used in the BBC radio show’s theme in the ’70s, or maybe it was the humorous elements from Stephen Fry’s narration that were directly taken from Douglas Adams’ book. However, this adaptation was too focused on inside jokes and references to appeal to a broad audience when it was first released. The production company had high hopes of adapting the numerous “Hitchhiker’s Guide” novels with their chosen cast of up-and-coming stars – Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, and Sam Rockwell – but despite generally positive critical reviews, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office.
Eragon (2006)
The extraordinary popularity of the Harry Potter movies prompted movie production companies to aggressively acquire rights to popular young adult fantasy novels, hoping to emulate that success. Unfortunately, Eragon by Christopher Paolini was one such series that suffered this fate. The resulting film adaptation was marred by a simplified storyline that failed to capture the intricacies of the book’s world-building, characters, and plot, and was riddled with stiff dialogue that often made the actors sound uncomfortable delivering it. Compared to cinematic masterpieces like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, Eragon seemed a poor imitation, lacking the depth and quality of stories it was accused of mimicking.
The Golden Compass (2007)
The Last Airbender (2010)
M. Night Shyamalan’s endeavor to adapt Nickelodeon’s pioneering animated fantasy series into a live-action film is often remembered as one of the most notable flops from the early 2000s, serving as a lesson on the perils of compressing 20 TV episodes into a two-hour movie. The film, titled The Last Airbender, unfortunately lacked appeal: A miscast group of child actors who seldom resembled their animated counterparts in terms of race and age, a simplified interpretation of the intricate world and narrative structure of the show, and an amusingly exaggerated portrayal of the characters’ elemental abilities. The film will forever be criticized for its rock scene.
An ill-suited ensemble of child actors who bore little resemblance to their animated counterparts in terms of ethnicity and age, a simplified representation of the show’s complex world and storyline, and an overly comical depiction of the characters’ elemental powers. The film will always be remembered for its rock scene.
Green Lantern (2011)
In simpler terms, the Green Lantern film, infamous for its poor quality, often serves as comic relief for Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, a more successful character from the same comic book universe. Originally intended to launch a DC cinematic universe, Green Lantern failed spectacularly, leading Warner Bros. to rethink their strategy and instead start a new universe with Man of Steel (it makes sense to introduce new audiences to these characters through Superman rather than a less well-known character like Green Lantern). The entire movie is generally disappointing, but the excessive use of digital effects, such as replacing Reynolds with a green CGI suit instead of an actual one, is particularly noteworthy.
John Carter (2012)
The majority of movies on this list aren’t great, but “John Carter” might surprise you if you recall it at all. Disney aimed high when trying to adapt Edgar Rice Burroughs’ science fiction classics into a contemporary action blockbuster, entrusting the live-action debut of “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E” director Andrew Stanton with source material he admired deeply. However, two issues arose: Burroughs’ Mars novels have already been extensively borrowed by other successful filmmakers for more popular movies like “Star Wars” and “Avatar,” leaving little original ground to cover. Furthermore, the initial marketing campaign didn’t adequately prepare audiences for who “John Carter” was or why they should care about him. The first trailer, though visually stunning and captivating, assumed that viewers were already familiar with the Barsoom books – which wasn’t the case.
Ender’s Game (2013)
Ender’s Game isn’t a bad movie per se, but it doesn’t do justice to the original book. The film softens the harsh and violent aspects of the story for a more commercially appealing blockbuster, turning Ender Wiggin into a victim rather than an active participant in his circumstances. It’s challenging to transform such a complex narrative into a family-friendly action movie, and the lackluster box office performance suggests that many fans of the book were not overly enthusiastic about seeing it adapted. The cast, featuring Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, and young Asa Butterfield, was excellent, as were the space battle scenes. However, these elements couldn’t prevent the proposed sequels from being shelved indefinitely.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
The primary issue with “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” a film adaptation from Cassandra Clare’s series of teen urban fantasy novels, lies in its familiarity. In the 2010s, every studio was eager to replicate the success of movies like “Twilight” or “Harry Potter,” often with disappointing outcomes. “The Mortal Instruments” fell into this category, appearing as a derivative of numerous fantasy franchises that preceded it, without enough development time for its intricate storyline and lacking the charm to appeal to fans who demand high-quality demon-slaying entertainment. The sequel, which would have introduced Sigourney Weaver, was scrapped following underwhelming box office returns.
Fantastic 4 (2015)
I’d certainly understand if people get anxious when films return for reshoots close to their release, given the experience with Josh Trank’s “Fantastic Four” movie. I remember it dramatically altering the mature characters of the comics into teenagers and transforming the playful tone into a darker one. The production underwent extensive reshoots, resulting in actors who looked noticeably different from the original cast. Rumor has it that 20th Century Fox, the studio owning the rights at the time, were so unhappy with Trank’s initial cut that they made numerous changes to the point where Trank disowned the movie before its premiere. The outcome was so disappointing that even Tommy Wiseau expressed interest in directing the sequel.
Assassin’s Creed (2016)
It’s common knowledge that transforming video games into movies is challenging, especially when it comes to something as complex as the Assassin’s Creed series. Justin Kurzel’s movie attempted to incorporate the acrobatic feats from the game world, but viewers and critics found the overall narrative confusing and dull. The director expressed a desire to set one of the proposed sequels during the Cold War era, and interestingly, one such sequel was in development while the initial film was being produced. However, disappointing box office returns and Disney’s acquisition of Fox halted any plans for subsequent films.
The Dark Tower (2017)
To devoted Stephen King enthusiasts, the film adaptation of “The Dark Tower” was a significant disappointment. It served as an adaption of the first book in King’s series and also functioned as a sort of continuation to the entire saga, which was already confusing. To make matters worse, they tried to condense King’s most intricate work into only 95 minutes. Despite having two incredibly talented actors like Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey to lead this epic post-apocalyptic western, the final cut left a richly planned and interconnected universe steeped in mythology feeling like little more than an incoherent movie shell – almost like an overly lengthy commercial for something that should have been so much better. A sequel, intended to adapt the second book, “The Drawing of the Three,” was quickly scrapped afterwards.
The Mummy (2017)
Is it accurate to say that the leaked “scream cut” of the trailer might have contributed to the poor performance of The Mummy movie? While there were likely other factors at play, it’s reasonable to assume this was part of it. Universal Studios had high hopes for a connected series of monster films, dubbed the “Dark Universe,” which aimed to revive the classic monsters that helped establish their brand in the 1930s. Casting Tom Cruise as the lead in a reboot of The Mummy seemed like a smart move for launching a successful franchise. However, the movie turned out to be disappointing, with Cruise appearing miscast and the film’s narrative being confusing and derivative, ultimately failing to deliver on the promise of a cinematic universe that never materialized.
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2025-02-07 18:24