I probably wouldn’t have picked up Future Boy by Michael J. Fox with Nelle Fortenberry if Linda and I hadn’t seen Back to the Future: The Musical a few months ago. The book is subtitled Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum. The book came out last year, in time for the fortieth anniversary of the film, Back to the Future.
In 1985, Fox was twenty-three, playing Alex Keaton on the hit television show “Family Ties”. Gary David Goldberg, the creator and executive producer asked him to meet in his office. He admitted that months earlier, because of the show, he refused to let Fox take the lead role in a big-budget Steven Spielberg film that was intended for Michael. But, the creative team behind Back to the Future came back and said their star wasn’t working out, and they still wanted Fox.
Michael J. Fox was stunned. That year, 1985, was a tough year for Family Ties because Meredith Baxter was pregnant with twins, and the show would rely on Fox even more. But, Goldberg agreed to let Fox film the movie, providing he finished the last nine TV shows of the season. So, Fox worked on the TV show during the day, and the film at night. He wasn’t the only one under pressure. The entire film crew had to redo what they had already filmed for five weeks with the previous actor.
Future Boy focuses on 1985 in Fox’s life. It doesn’t discuss his Parkinson’s. It only lightly touches on his life in Canada before he moved to LA without graduating from high school. It’s a behind-the scenes look at the filming of Back to the Future while Fox juggled Family Ties. It’s a light fast-paced memoir, a year that Fox doesn’t even personally remember since he had no time to be Michael J. Fox. His days were spend as Alex P. Keaton; his nights as Marty McFly. He sometimes worked twenty hours a day, and slept for about four hours. But, the chance to work on a Spielberg film? Priceless.
As I said, it’s just a light book that examines one year filming a movie and juggling a TV show. As a long-time fan of Michael J. Fox, it was just an enjoyable book.
Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry. Flatiron Books, 2025. 169p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I remember seeing Back to the Future when it came out and loving it! Since then, I’m sure I’ve seen it at least once more. It’s interesting to get the background. Thanks for the summary, Lesa.
You’re welcome, Kim. I’ve never seen it, only the musical. I’ll certainly watch it now.
Thanks, Lesa. Never heard of it. We’ve used “Alex P. Keaton” as a code word ever since the show – someone who “learns his lesson” about being a better person every week, then the following week does the same things over and over again. Of course, we identified with the liberal parents vs. the Reagan-loving Alex Keaton.
I have to admit, Jeff, that as far left as I am, I just loved Alex P. Keaton. I found him funny, and way too serious.
I’m a big Michael J. Fox fan and read this book when it came out last year. It was very interesting on how he juggled the two very demanding schedules and what the studio did to keep everything on track. I really like the book.
I just can’t imagine, Bev, trying to juggle that schedule. And, memorizing all the scripts! I admire him, too.