As many film fans know, Michael J. Fox was not the first actor cast as Marty McFly in the iconic film Back to the Future. That actor was Eric Stoltz. There are even photos of Stoltz on the set, and references to the switch-up have been made in alternate timeline stories on series like Fringe.
While the effects on the career trajectories of both Fox and Stoltz are obvious, most people don?t realize that the casting change affected other careers, as well. For instance, Claudia Wells was not the actress originally cast as Marty?s girlfriend, Jennifer. That was another actress, The Office?s Melora Hardin. And, she was recast for a reason that had nothing to do with job performance: while Eric Stoltz and Melora Hardin were the same height, she towered over Michael J. Fox by three inches. The powers that be decided that Marty?s girlfriend couldn?t be taller than he was, so, Melora was out and Claudia Wells was in.
Back to Back to the Future, penned by David Guy Levy and illustrated by Jeffrey Spokes, opens with Back to the Future co-writer Bob Gale and actress Melora Hardin chatting over coffee about what might have gone differently had she kept the role. One incident with an electric car and a lightning blast later, they?ve been transported to their own pasts, in a time just before Stoltz was fired. The two decide together to see if they can change the past and undo the recasting of the famous role.
The first three issues are being issued free of charge. Parts 4, 5 and 6 will be sold for $2 a piece to benefit The Young Storytellers Foundation. Young Storytellers introduces at-risk youth to the arts and gives them the chance to write stories and see them brought to life.
The first two issues are free online here and here and the third will be released next week.
Photo: Flickr contributor Cliff1066
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