Lea Thompson Spills Back to the Future Drama—Why She and Michael J. Fox Didn’t Get Along at First!

Lea Thompson has opened up about her early working relationship with her Back to the Future co-star, Michael J. Fox, revealing that they did not “hit it off” immediately. The 63-year-old actress, best known for portraying Lorraine Baines McFly in the beloved trilogy, shared her candid recollections on the Still Here Hollywood podcast with host Steve Metcalf.

When asked if she and Michael J. Fox clicked right away, Thompson admitted, “Probably not, because I was friends with Eric Stoltz, who had just been fired.” Stoltz was initially cast as Marty McFly before the filmmakers ultimately replaced him with Fox. Having worked with Stoltz previously in The Wildlife, Thompson had already developed a bond with him before stepping onto the Back to the Future set.

She went on to explain, “There was a really big division at that time between movie stars and TV stars. I remember thinking, ‘He’s just a TV star, and I’m a movie star. I was in Jaws 3-D!’”

However, her perspective soon shifted as she saw Fox’s undeniable charm and comedic talent in action. “It took me a while to warm up to him, but he was so funny and so fun to act with. I had already filmed some scenes with Eric, and then I had to redo them with Michael, and I could see how completely different they were.”

Fox, now also 63, famously took on the role of Marty McFly after Stoltz’s departure. The decision to recast the lead role mid-production was a bold move by the filmmakers, but one that ultimately paid off, as Fox’s performance became iconic.

Decades later, the Back to the Future cast remains close despite their initial rocky start. In 2023, Thompson, Fox, and Christopher Lloyd, now 84, reunited for a special event in New York, attending a musical adaptation of the legendary film. Fans were thrilled to see the trio together again, nearly 40 years after the franchise first took the world by storm.

The Back to the Future trilogy, which debuted in 1985, followed the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown. Its two sequels, released in 1989 and 1991, solidified its status as one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time. Beyond the films, the Back to the Future legacy has expanded into musicals and television adaptations, proving that its impact is truly timeless.