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It is impossible to envision the “Back to the Future” franchise without Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly. The 1985 film’s deeply nostalgic quality aside, Marty establishes himself as a relatable protagonist, whose flaws ultimately endear him to us. Moreover, the enduring chemistry between Fox’s Marty and Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown feels immediate, forming the emotional crux of the first movie \u2014 a solid foundation that Parts II and III confidently build upon. But Fox didn’t play Marty when Robert Zemeckis’ film first started filming, as the character was initially played by Eric Stoltz, who was replaced a few weeks into production.<\/a><\/p>\n While Zemeckis had good reason to replace Stoltz<\/a>, this recast had to be kept tightly under wraps out of fear that it would be interpreted as a sign of a doomed production (which would fuel predictions about the film becoming a box office bomb). In an interview with Entertainment Weekly<\/a>, Fox and Nelle Fortenberry \u2014 who co-authored the memoir “Future Boy” alongside the actor \u2014 talked about how the studio\/producers didn’t want to risk jeopardizing the film’s public perception before release.<\/p>\n Fox clarified that folks were unaware of the fact that he was rushed into production “six weeks in” and that Steven Spielberg (involved via his production company, Amblin Entertainment) was apprehensive about letting\u00a0Stoltz\u00a0go before the recast was finalized:<\/p>\n “Until my deal was locked in, Bob Zemeckis and his co-writer\/producer, Bob Gale, continued filming with Eric Stoltz, who was unaware of the impending change. [Producer Steven Spielberg] was afraid that if they let him go prematurely and production shut down, the whole film could implode. Universal needed assurance that a plan was in place for a seamless transition to a new lead actor.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n As it turns out, the decision to keep the Stoltz-Fox swap hush-hush was well-founded. Here’s why.<\/p>\n\n