For years, there have been questions of whether or not a new Back to the Future movie should be made. I'm personally in the camp that believes the franchise should be off-limits without Michael J. Fox. But I'm not opposed to adaptations or additional stories told through other mediums, like video games. Apparently, I'm not the only one with this thought.
Speaking to Cleveland.com, Back to the Future movie writer Bob Gale, a new video game based on the franchise is in development.
“We’ve got a shot at a new video game based on Back to the Future,” Gale revealed. “I don’t want to tell you any more than that because I’m not allowed to, but this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Knock on wood that it will happen."
It's worth noting that this wouldn't actually be the first video game based on Back to the Future. In 2010, Telltale Games released the episode graphic adventure Back to the Future: The Game to commemorate the films' 30th anniversary. Gale assisted Telltale in writing the game's story, which is set six months after Back to the Future III and sees players take control fo Marty on a new time-bending adventure. The synopsis reads:
Six months after Back to the Future Part III, the DeLorean time machine mysteriously returns to Hill Valley – driverless! Marty McFly must once again go back in time, or else the space-time continuum will be forever unraveled!
Original actors Michael J. Fox and CHrisopher Lloyd allowed their likeness to be used for the game's lead characters Marty McFly and Doc Brown, respectively. Lloyd reprised his role as Doc, while Marty was voiced by A.J. LoCascio. Fox, however, did appear later in the series as two cameo roles. He reprised his role as future versions of Marty McFly as well as his forefather William in the final episode.
The game was mostly a narrative adventure with simplistic gameplay that consisted largely of exploration and puzzle solving in order to progress. It received generally positive reviews and was Telltale's most successful franchise prior to the release of The Walking Dead: The Game.
Elsewhere in the interview, Gale hinted at more exciting announcements to come as art of the film franchise's 40th anniversary.
"Of course, 2025 is the 40th anniversary of the original movie. We’re planning on some events, plus there’s a documentary that’s in post-production now about the making of the musical," Gale said.