XPost: alt.movies.spielberg, rec.art.movies.past-films
'Back to the Future' Screenwriter Bob Gale Says
There Will 'Never' Be Another Sequel, 'Prequel'
or 'Spinoff': 'It's Just Fine the Way It Is'
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Don't expect "Back to the Future" to return from the past.
While speaking at Universal Fan Fest Nights on Friday (via People),
"Back to the Future" screenwriter Bob Gale shut down the possibility
of any more follow-ups to the classic 1985 film after the "Cobra
Kai" finale teased a television adaptation.
"I don't know why they keep talking about that!" Gale said. "I mean,
do they think that if they say it enough times, we're going to
actually do it?"
He continued, "I mean, it's like they know in every interview people
say, 'Oh Bob, when is there going to be a "Back to the Future 4"?'
Never. 'When is there going to be a prequel?' Never. 'When is there
going to be a spinoff?' Never. It's just fine the way it is. It's
not perfect, but as Bob Zemeckis used to say, 'It's perfect
enough.'"
Gale went on to say that if the higher-ups demanded he revive the
franchise, it would take some serious convincing.
"If the juggernaut of corporate America or corporate international
mishigas says, 'If you don't agree to this, we're going to kill your
children,' alright, well, no, we don't want our children killed,'"
Gale joked. "But Steven Spielberg, of course, he's got to sign off
on it, too. And Steven, just like Steven won't allow another 'E.T.,'
he totally respects the fact that we don't want any more 'Back to
the Future.' He gets it and always stood behind that. And thank you,
Steven."
Looking back on the 40 year history of "Back to the Future," Gale
said he is proud to have helped create a film that has remained a
classic through generations.
"What's so great is seeing the next generation of kids that are
being touched by this and [say], 'Gee, my parents were once kids,'"
Gale said. "That's why I think it keeps on going, because every kid
comes to that realization at some point, and we made a movie about
that. So I love the fact that people are newly discovering it."
Although "Back to the Future" is staying off screens, the film has
been adapted into a musical. Gale said he remains "humbled" by the
praise of international fans.
"We've made 'Back to the Future: The Musical,' which is still
playing in London, it's on a U.S. tour," Gale explained. "We just
opened it in Tokyo in Japanese, and they're just as crazy, or
crazier, over there about that whole 'Back to the Future' as
anywhere else. So, I mean, I'm humbled and blown away by the fact
that Bob and I came up with something that has this much staying
power."
While "Back to the Future" isn't receiving any new sequels, the
1985 original was followed by "Back to the Future Part II" in 1989
and "Back to the Future Part III" in 1990.
<
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/back-to-the-future-bob-gale-never-sequel-prequel-spinoff-1236380827/>
There was of course also the animated TV series, various books, a few
computer games (including a Telltale Games adventure game originally
released as a series of episodes), etc. Even at least one book
part-written by Bob Gale himself that includes 'spinoff' stories.
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