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By
Jeffrey Harris
Published 55 minutes ago
Jeffrey is a freelance features writer at Collider. He is an MPA-accredited entertainment journalist and a Tomatometer-approved critic based in the LA area. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, & Film and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.
Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapActor and filmmaker Ben Stiller is known for his iconic comedic roles as Ted in There's Something About Mary, Greg Focker in Meet the Parents, and Derek Zoolander in Zoolander, but did you know he was once considered for the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future? Quite a few budding young actors were in the running for what ultimately became the career-defining role of Michael J. Fox, as revealed in the Back to the Future Ultimate Trilogy home video release. The special edition for the classic franchise showcased various young actors who auditioned for the role in the 1980s, including Jon Cryer, C. Thomas Howell, and Billy Zane. However, the most exciting reveal in the lost audition tapes is Ben Stiller. It's time to go back in time to explore the unearthed audition tape of Ben Stiller as Marty McFly in Back to the Future.
Ben Stiller's Marty McFly Audition Footage Is Adorable
The footage of Stiller's audition as Marty McFly is decidedly brief, and it depicts Stiller, as Marty, responding to a question from the younger version of the character's mother, Lorraine. When Lorraine asks Stiller, reading as Marty, what his parents are like, Stiller responds, "Lorraine, lately I’ve come to the conclusion that I don't know anything about my parents." The exchange is clearly meant to reflect Marty's shock at meeting the younger versions of his parents, after he travels back in time to 1955. Stiller brings an interesting, unique vulnerability and in-character nervousness to his audition.
The footage is adorable because it's exactly what any fan or cinephile familiar with Stiller's work would expect from his reading for Marty McFly. Even at a young age of about 19 years old, Stiller showcases the unique hallmarks that he's become known for across decades of his career to the audition in the endearingly charming audition. Even though Stiller was not selected for the role, the actor exudes many qualities that would benefit him throughout later roles in his career, including his genuine sincerity and his incredible gift for comedic neurosis.
The Role of Marty McFly Was Not Destined for Stiller
Stiller looks like a natural talent and performer in his Back to the Future screen test, but the role of Marty was not destined for him. Although Michael J. Fox was the filmmakers' first choice for the role, his filming schedule for Family Ties ruled him out, and the part originally went to actor Eric Stoltz, fresh off his role in the acclaimed film Mask, by Peter Bogdanovich. However, as documented in the book We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy, by Caseen Gaines, Stoltz's more dramatic approach did not prove satisfactory with the material and was not what the filmmakers were looking for, so the production decided to replace Stoltz with Fox in early 1985, and the rest is history.
The part rightfully went to Fox, and for good reason. Fox took absolute ownership of the role of Marty McFly, and it's impossible to identify the character without him. Fox ticked all the boxes that the character needed, in terms of his charisma, comedic chops, and the endearing leading man charm. Although Stiller's energy was not in sync with the character, his considerable talents would eventually emerge in his first major hit, the raunchy yet heartfelt 1998 comedy, There's Something About Mary. Stiller's success would continue with a string of hit comedies, including Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and the Academy Award-nominated feature, Tropic Thunder, which he also co-wrote and directed. Even though things didn't work out for Stiller with Back to the Future, the right course of events unfolded, as Fox helped deliver one of the most iconic blockbusters of all time. Both Stiller and Fox went on to have incredible, prestigious careers, and Stiller has nothing to be ashamed about in losing the role to Fox.
It's Fun To Imagine What If Ben Stiller Played Marty McFly
The McFlys (Lea Thompson and Crispin) Glover hugging, Marty (Michael J. Fox), and Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) at the end of 'Back to the Future'Image via Universal Pictures
Regardless of the historical record, the footage of Stiller's audition for Marty McFly stands out as a wonderful piece of cinematic history. The audition reinforces the importance of the character and Back to the Future as a seminal film series, showcasing how many other prominent young actors of the era wanted the role. It highlights the fact that the movie was a big deal, and the up-and-coming actors who wanted the role were already aware that Universal Pictures, director Robert Zemeckis, writer-producer Bob Gale, and executive producer Steven Spielberg had a gigantic hit on their hands.
After watching the footage, it's fun to imagine what the film would have been like if Stiller had gotten his big break portraying Marty. It likely would have provided an incredibly different experience, but Stiller has proven over the years that he has a strong comedic wit that goes well with the material. Fox delivered a nigh-perfect performance, but Stiller might have excelled in the role as well. It's almost like Marty and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) creating a new branching timeline, which is what happens in Back to the Future: Part II. Travelling back in time causes a ripple effect, altering actions in the future, where Stiller gets the lead role. That's an amusing thought considering Back to the Future deals with time travel, causing alternative future outcomes.
Back to the Future is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
Back to the Future
Like PG Adventure Comedy Sci-Fi Release Date July 3, 1985 Runtime 116 minutes Director Robert Zemeckis Writers Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale Producers Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil CantonCast
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Michael J. Fox
Marty McFly
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Christopher Lloyd
Emmett Brown
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Ben Stiller
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Michael J. Fox
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