Caffeinated Clint
The timeless tale of time-traveler Marty McFly will be transferred from film to stage, when “Back to the Future – the Musical” hits London’s West End in 2015.
Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale have tapped Jamie Lloyd to helm a musical version of their 1985 film, which will open during the 30th Anniversary of the film.
Jamie Lloyd will direct the musical, which will feature a book by Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale and Lloyd, and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, with additional music from the film by Huey Lewis & The News, Chuck Berry, Pat Ballard and Curtis Williams, including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’.
Universal Stage Productions (“Wicked”), Colin Ingram (“Ghost – The Musical”) and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment have been charged the mission of getting Marty back to Hill Valley, 1985.
According to BTTF.com, who revealed today’s news on the musical, Gale had been exploring the idea of a “Back to the Future” musical for almost a decade.
Bob Gale says, “The Back to the Future Musical is a project that Bob Zemeckis and I have been exploring for almost ten years. We’re thrilled to be at last in partnership with a creative and producing team that will create a show that is true to the spirit of the film without being a slavish remake. Director Jamie Lloyd is full of passion, energy and imaginative ideas and we are overjoyed to have the film’s composer Alan Silvestri composing the music, with lyrics by Glen Ballard who has also collaborated with Zemeckis before on many projects. With all of us working together, we know the integrity of the material will be preserved in a production that will be a wonderful companion to the Trilogy. We intend to use music from the movie along with brand new songs to make a version of Back to the Future that is fresh, entertaining, and takes advantage of all the amazing things that can now be done on stage. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film.”
Jamie Lloyd adds, “I was five when I saw Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s landmark movie, Back to the Future, and I have been a huge fan ever since. I am thrilled to be directing and co-writing this exciting new musical based on their masterful film, which has become embedded in our popular culture. Rather than attempt to recreate such an iconic movie on stage, we have assembled a brilliant artistic team to discover a unique theatrical language to take audiences on a journey through time in a vibrant, unexpected way. The production will include illusions, skateboarding and many other surprises that will capture the spirit of the film but freshly interpret it for a new audience. Steven Spielberg once described the film as a musical and whilst we are incorporating some of the original, exhilarating score and songs, Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard’s witty, infectious and heartfelt new songs are the perfect springboard to tell this uplifting story anew.”
Though the team behind the hit ’80s movie (trilogy) don’t mind porting it’s unique story over to other formats, be it a video-game or the musical, don’t expect a new “Back to the Future” movie sequel anytime soon. Those involved in the films are convinced the story is done.
In 2010, Gale told BTTF.com that they “have no plans or desires to make another Back to the Future movie — not a Part 4, or a remake of Part 1.” and neither “does Universal or Amblin have any such plans. How do we know? Because, per our contracts with these companies, no Back to the Future sequel or remake can even be scripted without discussing it with us first. No such discussions have taken place. We are very proud of the Trilogy as it stands and we want to leave it as is.”
