Backlog
July 09, 1999
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June 01, 1999
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©1995-99, To Be Continued...
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July 15, 1999
Universal passing “BTTF4/5” to DreamWorks?
New details once suggested that the new sequels could be produced by DreamWorks
I was quite stunned when I received word last week from our insider that BTTF4/5 may be developed by DreamWorks instead of Universal Studios. This news came as a big surprise to me, likewise for my source, as it just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Back to the Future is among Universal's most successful properties of all time, and is certainly one of the most lucrative ones.
My source says that they find it hard to believe that Universal would pass on the project, especially since the project was derived from Universal's own in-house development. I'm told that Universal hasn't officially passed on the project yet, but at the same time they haven't fully committed yet either. My source says that it seemed that the suits at DreamWorks apparently wanted to be part of the development more than the ones at Universal did.
I held off on printing the info until I could get some clarification on the details. As it ends up, this is not the case afterall as far as we know, and BTTF4/5 will remain as a Universal property. I think it is, however, very plausible that a big budgeted project such as this could require that Universal bring DreamWorks on as a joint partner in the project due to the heavy financing that would be required. This would seemingly make much more sense, as it has been a very common practice in the two years or so for studios to split the costs on big-budgeted films. Think back over 10 years ago when Zemeckis & Gale approached Universal with their original concept for BTTF2 — the studio balked at their vision of a 4-hour sequel called Paradox that would cost nearly $80 million (unheard of just a decade ago), telling the duo to cut it down to around two hours. When the writing partners decided that they couldn't throw out any of the ideas they had,they were given the approval to split the epic into two separate films along with a $40 million budget for each film. There's no doubt that two new films would be a costly investment for Universal, but since the studio has changed hands a couple of times since the BTTF series began, there's probably not many folks still within the executive offices who would recall the excitement and mass hysteria the original and its sequels created back all those years ago. Universal's probably nervous about such a project, so I could understand them bringing on DreamWorks as a partner. But to completely pass the torch seem unimaginable at this point, given the amount of money the BTTF franchise makes for the corporation on a daily basis from their theme parks alone.
Terry Rossio also writing sequels
I've also recently learned that Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott's long-time writing partner, will indeed be involved in writing the scripts to the next two sequels. The pair, who just last week were announced to be also writing a follow-up sequel to The Mask of Zorro, will share writing duties on the two BTTF sequels, but I'm told that Elliott will do the majority of the writing. It seems that while they are 50/50 partners in their production company, they however alternate writing duties between projects — one of the two takes the lead and actually does about 80% of the writing on a particular project. So it seems that while both will be involved in writing sequels for Back to the Future and The Mask of Zorro, Rossio will work primarily on Zorro and Elliott will do the same on BTTF4/5.
Newest info suggests all three DVDs to be sold as a Boxed Set
According to the July 5th issue of Video Business Magazine, Universal will actually be releasing all three Back to the Future films in a boxed set in time for Christmas. The magazine is quoted on page 44 in a footnote saying "Boxed Sets of Fox's Planet of the Apes and Universal's Back to the Future trilogy should be hot holiday sellers.". The quote was accompanied by a photo of Doc driving the DeLorean in 2015. In the same magazine on page 50, the topic of Boxed Sets brings up the collection again: "One way to avoid the glut is through boxed sets that allow an entire franchise to be promoted and packaged. Expect Fox's Planet of the Apes and Universal's Back to the Future trilogy to join Nightmare on Elm Street as the hot DVD boxed sets of the upcoming holiday season." [Thanks to Steve
Czarnecki for the news!]
One correction from an earlier post: Christopher Lloyd was not interviewed for the new DVD documentary.
Virtual Hoverboard feature to debut in upcoming BTTF games
I'm told that the BTTF CD-ROM and N64 games are to be out in time to celebrate the film series' 15th Anniversary next year, which I assume means by next Summer. One really interesting feature that is being developed for these games is a pad that will be used in a virtual hoverboard sequence on the games! Similar to Nintendo's jogging pad, this "hover" pad will debut on the market in timing with the release of the new BTTF games. The games are in the early stages of development, with prospective storyboards and artwork already being designed.
Cinescape finally admiting to BTTF4 developments?
Cinescape Online editor Frank Kurtz has just published a feature he calls "Put These Sequels to Sleep" on the magazine's website, in which he blasts practically every single sequel in the works or rumored to be. He was relatively kind in regards to BTTF4 in comparison to most of the other franchises. The fact that BTTF4 made his list indicates that the editorial staff must finally be aware that the sequel really is indeed in the works, contrary to the previous report by their "Insider". Some people just have trouble thinking fourth dimensionally I guess...
Back to the Future 4
"Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy the trilogy as it stands. It flies hither and yon and ties it all up in the final minutes of Part 3. Why do we need to mess this up again? Let Marty McFly have his happy new life courtesy of the events of the
three films."
One year later: "BACK4" stock soaring at HSX.com
On July 14, 1998, the Hollywood Stock Exchange website announced an IPO (Initial Public Offering) for MovieStock™ in Back to the Future 4 (BACK4), beginning at a price of $5.00 a share. One year later, the stock for the much anticipated sequel closed yesterday at $28.12. If you're not familiar with HSX.com, it's a free site in which you are given $2 million Hollywood dollars for free to play the "movie" stock market. By "investing" in your favorite films and stars, you can build your own portfolio. In actuality, Hollywood itself looks to the site as an indicator as to what properties and stars movie-goers are really interested in.
Let me encourage everyone of our readers to take part in this very fun site — sign up for free if you haven't done so already, and purchase the maximum amount of shares in "BACK4" as is allowed — 50,000. Let's send a message lound and clear to Universal & Amblin that this is one sequel we all believe in! No word yet as to when HSX.com will be offering a BACK5 IPO.
Lloyd on Television again
In case you missed the very special episode of Spin City last February in which Christopher Lloyd was reunited with fellow time traveler Michael J. Fox, the episode is finally being repeated next Tuesday, July 20 on ABC. You won't want to miss it again if you didn't get a chance to catch it the first time, as this may be your last time to catch it before the show goes into syndication in a couple of years. The episode's title — "Back to the Future IV - Judgement Day" — is quite ironic now given the recent information we now have on the upcoming sequels. Spin City also jumps back in time the same night by one hour, settling into its new time slot for this Fall at 8:00 PM ET.
Also, Lloyd's fourth commercial for 10-10-220 is now airing on TV's across the nation. In this one, he is made up to be a scientist in a white lab coat, but no white hair. Very interesting...
— Stephen Clark
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