"Back to the Future Writer: No Prequels, Spinoffs, or Sequels Ever"

There will “never” be another Back to the Future—not a fourth movie, not a prequel, and certainly not a TV series, according to Bob Gale, co-writer of the beloved trilogy.

This statement comes in response to recent speculation sparked by the creators of Cobra Kai, who hinted at a potential Back to the Future television project. But Gale is quick to shut down any such rumors.

“I don't know why they keep talking about that!” Gale exclaimed in an interview with People. “I mean, do they think that if they say it enough times, we're going to actually do it?”

He continued, “It’s like in every interview, people ask, ‘Oh Bob, when is there going to be a Back to the Future 4?’ Never. ‘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.’ ”

Of course, while Gale holds firm on his stance, he acknowledged that technically, Hollywood could push forward with a revival if major studios or producers decided to move ahead. However, one key figure would need to sign off: legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. According to Gale, that’s highly unlikely.

“If the juggernaut of corporate America or international mishigas says, ‘If you don't agree to this, we're going to kill your children,’ well, no, we don't want our children killed,” he joked. “But Steven Spielberg also has to sign off on it. And Steven won’t allow another E.T., just like he gets why we don’t want any more Back to the Future. He respects it and always stood behind that. Thank you, Steven.”

Gale’s comments align with previous dismissals of franchise expansion. In February, he was even more blunt when addressing fans hoping for a fourth installment: “People always say, ‘When are you going to do Back to the Future 4?’ And we say, ‘F*** you.’”

The original film, released in 1985, follows high school student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who accidentally travels back in time with the help of the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). The film became a cultural phenomenon, spawning two successful sequels and cementing its place as one of the most iconic sci-fi trilogies in cinematic history.

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