Michael J. Fox was perfectly cast as Marty McFly, but he regrets one thing that happened as a result of his casting. Back to the Future is one of the best films from the 1980s. Led by Fox, the film is a time-traveling adventure that blends comedy and sci-fi into a non-stop, charming ride.
Part of the reason why the Robert Zemeckis film is so beloved is due to Fox’s performance as Marty. He’s a likable and relatable protagonist, and Fox delivers the energetic and rebellious spirit that makes him so endearing. He also has excellent chemistry with Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown, who matches Fox’s performance with his own zany eccentricities.
Fox portrayed McFly for the entire trilogy, establishing him as one of the most memorable characters of the 1980s. While it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role, Fox actually replaced an actor who was originally cast in the role. However, his casting led to another character getting recast, and he regrets that his addition got one actor removed from the film.
Michael J. Fox’s Back To The Future Casting Led to Another Recast
Michael J Fox’s Marty stares standing outside a mall in Back to the Futurevia Universal Pictures
Before Fox portrayed McFly, the role was given to Eric Stoltz. According to Variety, “Stoltz was already in production for six weeks” on Back to the Future before he was recast with Fox, who “had been blocked from the film due to his commitment to the NBC sitcom ‘Family Ties.'”
However, Fox’s casting led to Melora Hardin, who was portraying Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer Parker, getting replaced by Claudia Wells. In his recent novel, Future Boy, Fox admits that Hardin was recast because she was “several inches taller” than him (via Entertainment Weekly).
“Melora, several inches taller than me, was replaced in the movie after I took over as Marty. Initially, Bob Zemeckis thought perhaps the audience could look past our height difference, but when he quickly surveyed the female members of the crew, they assured him that the tall pretty girl in high school rarely picks the cute short guy.”
Fox shared that he regretted that “this prejudice inadvertently affected another cast member.” He also admitted that his height was more of an issue as he got older, as it “turned against me as an adult, when I went up for romantic leads opposite taller actresses.”
What Melora Hardin Has Said About Losing Her Back To The Future Role
While Hardin missed out on starring in Back to the Future, she later became known for her role as Jan Levinson, Michael Scott’s former boss and girlfriend, in The Office. Speaking with The Joe Vulpis Podcast in March 2025, Hardin explained why Fox’s addition to the cast led to her being replaced.
She said her height difference with Fox resulted in her getting recast when they brought him in, saying, “When they did that, it was apparently the two female executives at the time that thought that it was emasculating for their lead character male to be in scenes with a woman that was taller than him.”
Hardin stated that “At 17 years old, that was crushing for me, and very, very upsetting.” However, she also recognizes that if she had done Back to the Future, she might not have joined The Office.
“If I had done it, I’m sure it would have all gone in a different way. I wouldn’t have done The Office.”
While starring in the 1980s blockbuster would have been a special moment in her career, The Office still gave Hardin a memorable role on a frequently-watched comedy series. However, it’s interesting to wonder what Back to the Future may have looked like with her acting alongside Fox.
Release Date
July 3, 1985
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Writers
Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Producers
Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil Canton
