Back to the Future is staying parked firmly in the past, and that’s just how its creators intend it. Speaking with PEOPLE, screenwriter Bob Gale made it clear that despite renewed speculation following a playful reference in Cobra Kai’s finale, no spin-offs, prequels, or sequels are planned.
Gale didn’t mince words when asked about the possibility of revisiting Hill Valley. “I don’t know why they keep talking about that! Do they think if they say it enough times, we’re going to actually do it?” he said, adding that both he and director Robert Zemeckis believe the trilogy ended exactly where it should have. “I mean, it’s like they know in every interview people say, ‘Oh Bob, when is there going to be a Back to the Future 4?’ Never,” he continued. “‘When is there going to be a prequel?’ Never. ‘When is there going to be a spinoff?’ Never. It’s just fine the way it is. It’s not perfect, but as Bob Zemeckis used to say, ‘It’s perfect enough.’”
Pressure from studio executives would not sway him either, Gale joked, unless extreme measures were involved. Even then, Steven Spielberg’s steadfast support has given him additional confidence to maintain that no new installments should be made. “Steven, just like Steven won’t allow another E.T., he totally respects the fact that we don’t want any more Back to the Future. He gets it and always stood behind that. And thank you, Steven.”
Looking back on the legacy of the trilogy, Gale expressed pride in seeing Back to the Future reach new generations. “What’s so great is seeing the next generation of kids that are being touched by this and [think], ‘gee, my parents were once kids,’” he said. “That’s why I think it keeps on going, because every kid comes that realization at some point, and we made a movie about that. So I love the fact that people are newly discovering it.”
While no new film projects are on the horizon, the franchise has found fresh life on stage. “We’ve made Back to the Future The Musical, which is still playing in London, it’s on a U.S. tour,” he said. “We just opened it in Tokyo in Japanese, and they’re just as crazy — or crazier — over there about that whole Back to the Future as anywhere else. So, I mean, I’m humbled and blown away by the fact that Bob and I came up with something that has this much staying power.”
Fans stirred up rumours earlier this year after the finale of Cobra Kai featured a tongue-in-cheek scene hinting at a potential Back to the Future television show. In the scene, Cobra Kai co-creators Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz jokingly discuss assembling original franchise stars Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, Billy Zane, and Crispin Glover, along with Michael J. Fox as “Mike.” Hurwitz later clarified that the conversation was pure fun, acknowledging that the franchise remains closely guarded. “If they ever decided they wanted to have a sequel series, then we’d be all-in,” he added.
For now, though, Back to the Future remains as Gale and Zemeckis intended — untouched, beloved, and timeless. Cobra Kai, meanwhile, continues to be available for streaming on Netflix.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
