Additional Coverage:
- Michael J. Fox Shares Pressures of Filming ‘Back to the Future’ in Audiobook Sneak Peak (parade.com)
Michael J. Fox Details Intense “Back to the Future” Filming Experience in Upcoming Memoir
Actor Michael J. Fox is offering fans an early glimpse into his highly anticipated new memoir, Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, set for release next week. The beloved star is also narrating the audiobook, sharing a preview that delves into the intense pressures he faced while filming the iconic 1985 blockbuster.
In a clip posted to social media on Tuesday, Fox recounts his profound nervousness taking on the role of Marty McFly. The book’s description reveals that it will detail his experiences balancing the demands of Back to the Future with his concurrent work on the hit television series Family Ties.
“I had to succeed in ‘Back to the Future,'” Fox writes in a passage from the book. “I was operating on no sleep while playing the most important role in my career.”
He further emphasized the high stakes, stating in the preview, “There was no such thing as ramping up to a good performance, every take had to be my best.”
By 1985, Fox was already an established, Emmy Award-winning actor through his portrayal of Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. Despite this existing notoriety, the pressure on the set of Back to the Future was immense, a film that would ultimately skyrocket his career and lead to three installments alongside co-star Christopher Lloyd.
Fans have expressed significant enthusiasm for the upcoming release, with many noting their eagerness and pre-orders. Comments on the preview included, “Pre-ordered the audiobook.
Can’t wait for this one!!” and “Excited for this!
I have read all of your books & am always rooting for you.”
While Future Boy is scheduled for an October 14 release, Fox has been periodically sharing excerpts with his audience, including chapter titles and additional sneak peeks. In another shared passage, he reflects on the strenuous period: “I was Alex P.
Keaton during the day and Marty McFly at night. The 20-hour work days left little time to be me, Mike Fox.
It has taken me four decades to piece it all together.”
Michael J. Fox’s Previous Works
Future Boy marks Fox’s fifth literary endeavor. Since his first book in 2002, his memoirs have consistently explored his personal life, career trajectory, and his journey with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he received in 1991 and publicly disclosed in 1998. His previous works include:
- Lucky Man: A Memoir (2002)
- Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010)
- No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (2020)
Ahead of his last book’s release, Fox told People magazine that he was shifting his writing focus from solely recounting his own experiences to exploring changes in his “perspective.”