Back to the Future co-creator Bob Gale has delivered a blunt message to fans clamoring for a fourth installment: “F\*\*k you.” In a recent interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Gale—writer and producer of all three original films alongside Robert Zemeckis—made it crystal clear: there are no plans for a canonical continuation of the iconic sci-fi franchise.
“People always ask, ‘When are you going to do Back to the Future 4?’” Gale said during an appearance at the Saturn Awards. “And we say, ‘F\*\*k you.’”
Why There Won’t Be a Back to the Future 4
While Hollywood continues to mine nostalgia with reboots and long-delayed sequels—see The Matrix Resurrections or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny for cautionary tales—Gale and Zemeckis have no interest in revisiting Hill Valley. Ironically, the franchise that taught us to respect the timeline seems determined to stay exactly where it belongs: in the past.
The original 1985 film, which follows high schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he’s accidentally hurled back to 1955 by mad scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), remains a cultural touchstone. Though the beloved first film was followed by two ambitious sequels released in 1989 and 1990, those entries were met with more mixed reactions—further cementing the creators’ stance that the story is complete.
How the Franchise Lives On
Despite the absence of new films, Back to the Future continues to thrive. A successful Broadway musical adaptation introduced the story to a new generation, and Gale revealed he’s developing a stage production exclusively for Royal Caribbean Cruises. He also shared that he’s assisting Michael J. Fox with a book about his time on the films—an exciting project that honors the legacy without forcing a reboot.
For fans hoping for more time travel adventures, Gale’s message is simple: enjoy what exists. The trilogy stands complete—not because it can’t be continued, but because it doesn’t need to be.
